BRICS Summit and Russian Interests

"I have repeatedly said that Russia approaches the duties of the BRICS chairman responsibly. Over 200 events were held in thirteen Russian cities. In particular, numerous meetings of industry ministers took place, various conferences were held, seminars, and a business forum. Sports games were also held with great success", said Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at a press conference following the summit.

The summit was attended by delegations of 35 states and six international organizations. As soon as the leaders of the BRICS member countries adopted the Kazan Declaration, containing 134 points on 43 pages, it became clear that it was not just a "big conference of politicians at the highest level". The BRICS summit was a challenge for world capitals, where they watched this event - from Astana to Washington.

Why can this be a "challenge"?

The Kazan Declaration noted that the states supported the "modalities of the category of partner countries", welcomed the interest of other countries in unification. This means that the composition of the BRICS will expand, the influence of the association will grow.

The BRICS countries are in favor of a multipolar world order, the leaders supported a comprehensive reform of the UN to increase its democracy, representativeness and effectiveness. In particular, they expressed their readiness to coordinate actions to strengthen the role of the global South and integrate its priorities into the G20 agenda. This is in the interests of Russia.

The BRICS countries intend to continue inter-parliamentary interaction, the leaders also recognized the importance of dialogue between the political parties of the association. They stressed the importance of ensuring the integrity of information, its free flow and open access to reliable facts. This is exactly what the West is purposefully avoiding today.

The Kazan Declaration consists of four sections, including:

• Strengthening multilateralism for a more just and democratic world order
• Enhanced cooperation for global and regional stability and security
• Deepening financial and economic cooperation for equitable global development
• Increased humanitarian exchanges for socio-economic development.

Goals and priorities

What did the leaders of the BRICS countries agree on, what are the goals of the association?

First is the future of the UN and its reform, including changes in the Security Council. This part of the Declaration can be particularly painful for the West. It is the representatives of the countries of the "golden billion" that numerically prevail in the UN Security Council, control the apparatus of the World Organization.

Secondly, international security proposals include issues of preventing an arms race in space. The United States may not like that even wider opposition is being formed to any plans for the militarization of outer space.

The BRICS countries actually called on the West to resume the Iranian nuclear deal, strengthen the non-proliferation regime and the nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, where the threat of escalation of the conflict is high. The United States and EuroNATO should "explain" here too, both for the reasons of the breakdown of agreements with Iran and for Israel's actions.

Thirdly, the leaders supported the adoption at the UN of the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders. BRICS countries condemned Israel for attacks against humanitarian centers and infrastructure in Palestine, on the Iranian embassy and undermining pagers in Lebanon. Called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages without preconditions. They warned that the escalation in Gaza is fraught with global consequences.

The leaders advocated unconditional respect for the sovereignty of Syria and the protection of its territorial integrity. They called for the peaceful settlement of conflicts and the elimination of their root causes, as well as for the finalization and adoption of a comprehensive convention on combating international terrorism within the framework of the UN. BRICS countries condemned terrorist attacks on cross-border energy infrastructure, called for their unbiased investigation.

The leaders recalled the "national positions" on the conflict in Ukraine, "outlined in the relevant forums, including the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly", noted the proposals for mediation. The Declaration "with satisfaction" noted proposals for "good services" for a Ukrainian settlement. The speeches proposed to achieve de-escalation and pave the way for a political settlement.

Fourth, the BRICS countries called for the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions by expanding the contribution of developing countries to the world economy, pointed out the need to reform the current international financial architecture to solve financial problems, agreed to study the possibility of creating an independent cross-border settlement and depository infrastructure BRICS Clear, supported the use of alternative currencies within the pool of foreign exchange reserves of the association.

Trade, investment, development

The BRICS countries agreed to simplify international trade procedures, advocate an open multilateral trade system with the central role of the WTO with a special regime for developing countries, agreed to resist unilateral protectionist measures that are not consistent with the WTO.

BRICS countries expressed concern about the negative impact of unilateral sanctions on the global economy and other areas. The leaders intend to expand the dialogue in the field of export control of technologies, intend to "guarantee the legal rights of states to participate as fully as possible in the exchange of scientific and technical information, materials and equipment for peaceful purposes".

High hopes are pinned on a new investment platform that uses the infrastructure of the New Development Bank (NDB), the number of shareholders of which should grow. The states agreed to transform the NDB into a multilateral development bank for emerging market countries, agreed to intensify financial interaction against the backdrop of geopolitical risks.

BRICS will study the creation of a single transport platform to ensure multimodal logistics between the countries of association. The association will promote trade in agricultural products, which must be protected from unlawful restrictive measures. The BRICS countries supported the initiative of the Russian Federation to create a Grain Exchange with coverage of other agricultural sectors.

Participants will increase the turnover of precious metals according to the Kimberley Process standards, welcomed the "creation of an informal BRICS cooperation platform with the participation of African diamond mining countries for the free trade of rough diamonds and the sustainable development of the global diamond industry".

Participants also noted that they consider the Kimberley Process (KP) - an international diamond certification organization - "the only global intergovernmental certification mechanism for regulating the trade in rough diamonds". Earlier this year, Russia was visited by representatives of the World Diamond Council (an industry association with observer status in the CP).

Following the results of the review visit of representatives of the World Diamond Council, Russia fully complies with the KP certification scheme and complies with its requirements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke in favor of expanding barrier-free e-commerce, creating a separate platform for precious metals and diamonds and opening the BRICS grain exchange to "protect against negative external interference, speculation and attempts to cause artificial food shortages". "Over time, one could think about transforming the grain exchange into a full-fledged commodity exchange", he said.

Technology, digitalization, climate

BRICS countries will expand cooperation in the field of remote sensing satellites, advocate for the UN to play an important role in global AI governance, and recognize the enormous potential of ICT to bridge the digital divide for socio-economic growth and development.

The leaders called for a balanced approach to the development and security of ICT products and systems, look forward to the adoption at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly of the draft convention of the world organization to combat cybercrime.

BRICS countries support the further development of the BRICS Clean Rivers climate initiative and against discriminatory protectionist measures taken under the guise of environmental concerns. They called for urgent financial resources and policies to address desertification and drought.

States consider it necessary to strengthen interactions in the development of vaccines and in nuclear medicine projects, which makes a significant contribution to the development of medicine in the world as a whole.

The leaders called on developed states to fulfill their obligations to help countries in need, called on developed countries to provide effective and easily accessible resources to developing countries for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

"Are there any objections, comments to this declaration? - clarified the Russian leader from colleagues after the meeting in an expanded composition. "If not, I propose to consider the declaration adopted".

"I want to note that we plan to distribute it [the Kazan Declaration of the BRICS Summit] as our common joint document", Putin said, summing up the expanded summit meeting.

The document, as Putin explained, "contains general assessments of the state of affairs in the world, summarizes the results of the Russian chairmanship in the BRICS, and defines the guidelines for interaction for the long term".