Argentinian political analyst Atilio Borón. Photo: Montserrat Boix
The leaders of the Global South and East are raising their voices for a common purpose: a multilateral, equitable and fairer world, in which the most vulnerable nations and the developing countries can unite and join forces to achieve a change. At the recently concluded 16th BRICS Summit that took place in the Russian city of Kazan, for three days leaders of emerging economies and special guests discussed the most pressing issues that the world is facing today, including sustainable development, eradication of poverty, adaptation to climate change, unilateral sanctions as a political weapon, and the war in the Middle East.
In this context, Argentinian political analyst Atilio Borón gave an interview to Alejandra García of TeleSUR, where he addressed the main highlights of this Summit, and why it is set to mark a “before and after” in the global political order.
Alejandra García: What can you tell us about the agenda of the 16th BRICS Summit and the impact it can have for Latin America, especially amid the manifested hatred professed by Argentina’s president Javier Milei for multilateralism and a change of world order?
Atilio Borón: Argentina did not take part in the summit, and the decision of President Milei was absolutely based on his biased view of the Western progressive forces, even amid the huge movement and policies evolving for the protection of human rights, economic progress and so on. Ever since Milei took office, he has been focused on changing the alignment of the Argentinian establishment, diverging from the path of Latin American integration followed by the previous government. He has been allying the country with the US and “Israel,” and reproducing the foreign policy of not recognizing the BRICS and that is the reason why Argentina is out.
AG: Cooperation within the BRICS format reaches many fields, including confronting media campaigns led by Western powers against the people of the Global South and beyond. So, how important is the BRICS’s role to act as a counterweight against western hegemonic powers?
AB: The BRICS has been doing a very important job, and now, with the enlargement of the BRICS, the voice of the Global South it will be even greater. A lot of these discussions were centered on economic and political issues, but I think that BRICS is also fighting a battle in the communications sphere in this point. I would like to see a media platform of the various countries to promote the voice of the people of the Global South. We know that one of the mechanisms of colonial domination in the hands of the US and its European partners is that they have almost the absolute control of the mass media, and this was one of the missing items in the final declaration of the BRICS. I hope that someone raises the question and the issue is included, promoting the possibilities of an international declaration of a system of communication in order to be sure that the voices of the south are heard.
AG: Unfortunately, as the BRICS summit takes place, the Israeli genocide against the people of Palestine continues, as well as the increased aggressions against Lebanon and Syria. This was also on the table of this Summit… How can BRICS help bring an end to Israel’s expansionist policy, and secure peace and stability in the region?
AB: The declaration has very strong wording against Israel, and against its attacks against Iran and the genocide going on against Gaza. The declaration also calls for the immediate creation of two states: the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, and the immediate recognition of Palestine as a member country of the United Nation. This is a very strong claim within an international mechanism, and a very rare one in this type of scenario. I hope that this urgent call is heard by the UN, which needs to undergo a very comprehensive reform in order to make it more effective and more democratic. Today, the UN is neither democratic, nor effective as proven, once again, by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and other regions of Palestine.
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AG: During the summit, President Vladimir Putin held bilateral meetings with leaders of member nations and other special guests. I would like to know your opinion on the exchange held by the host of the BRICS Summit and the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. What was the relevance of this meeting?
AB: It is very important because both Russia and Venezuela have immense oil resources and the incorporation of Venezuela, which was not agreed upon yet, could strengthen the capacity of the BRICS to make a difference in the international scenario. In addition, we need to keep in mind that Putin has been demonized by the western press. However, the fact that Russia was able to hold this summit and host representatives of several nations during the Kazan meeting is an enormous victory for Russia. It was also a victory for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to have a bilateral dialogue with one of the most powerful and influential politicians of the world, on such a platform.
AG: In just a few days, as in every year the United Nations will vote on Cuba’s resolution against the US blockade… How has this BRICS summit supported Cuba’s historical demands against this over six-decades long policy?
AB: In this summit in Russia, we have seen the presence of Latin American representatives, such as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was actually the first Venezuelan president to attend this event since the foundation of the BRICS in 2008. Cuba, Bolivia, and Colombia were also there, and it is very important for the region. Although Latin America is right next to the United States, leaders of the region are choosing a change, a new path far from the hegemony imposed for decades by the US. In this reality, the BRICS is pushing for an end to all sorts of impositions and sanctions that violate the sovereignty of the nations and their right to self-determination. BRICS is demonstrating that there is an alternative, and now it is more important than ever.
AG: Israel’s policy of blockading Gaza has resulted in hunger and dire health conditions… the US blockade against Cuba has similarly resulted in difficult conditions for ordinary Cubans, and we saw the effects a few days ago with the almost total blackout suffered by the island… How do you see blockades and sanctions as a foreign policy tool when these affect the population of a country?
AB: The BRICS have been emphatic about how unilateral sanctions are being used as an imperialist tool by the US and some of its European allies against countries that do not align with their political agenda. In fact, if we read between the lines, shortly after the Kazan declaration was released, the European Union stated that it does not agrees with this summit, while it does support the illegal sanctions imposed by the US and remains silent in the face of the genocide in the Middle East, as a clear proof of its double standard. We cannot say that we are totally hopeful, but the BRICS is surely pushing significantly for a change.
AG: Why is it important for the leaders of developing countries, of the Global South to meet, to talk, to be united?
AB: The future of humanity is not going to be like these past colonial centuries and I will argue that today colonialism continues. Western powers have a monopoly and are strangling the most vulnerable peoples of the world more than ever. But, at the same time, we see this intrinsic rebellion, with billions of people, the majority, all over the world who are tired of the inequality, the imperialist regimes, and hunger. This means that a handful is leading from the West, with the US leading the way, along with its puppet allies, who believe that they can dominate the future of humanity. However, from Kazan, Russia, we are hearing something completely different. We are hearing cooperation in terms of peace, cooperation in terms of mutual benefits, with a program that is looking forward for the preservation of the environment, and to preserve the world that we need, that our children need, that the generations to come will need.
(Resumen Latinoamericano – English) by Alejandra García, with additional editing by Orinoco Tribune
