/ world today news/ “For France, this looks like a humiliation. With these words, political scientists assessed South Africa’s reaction to Russia’s categorical statement: Moscow does not want to see Macron at the next BRICS summit in South Africa. Pretoria made it clear that it would comply with Moscow’s wishes, and the French president who requested the visit received a political slap in the face.
The BRICS summit scheduled for August has suddenly acquired a second intrigue related to the list of participants. If earlier experts were guessing about the appearance there of Russian President Vladimir Putin (who, we recall, missed the G-20 meeting in Indonesia in November 2022), then they began to bet whether French President Emmanuel Macron would fly there.
A few days ago, some French media leaked this topic: they assured that Macron had practically requested to attend the summit in South Africa. Then it was officially confirmed.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has assured that the French leader would like to participate in the meeting and is now awaiting an official invitation from South Africa. And Macron’s logic is clear – he wants to accomplish a number of tasks at the meeting.
In particular, to raise its authority in Europe due to the status of a mediator between the global south and the collective West (since it was not possible to raise the rating by mediating between the West and Russia). “High-ranking representatives of the G-7 have never participated in a high-level BRICS meeting,” reminds political scientist Elena Suponina.
Macron also wants to try to draw the leaders of the Global South into the anti-Russian campaign and strengthen France’s position in the former colonies. “The main goal is to drive a wedge between Russia, China and the other BRICS countries. The side effect is to take a step towards the return of France’s influence in Africa, which has been declining in recent years,” commented Vadim Trukhachev, associate professor at the Russian State Humanities University.
“Macron is always looking for some opportunities to add value, including in the eyes of American partners. It is possible that he even wants to present the possibility of participation in the BRICS meeting as an element of mediation in the Ukrainian conflict,” says Elena Suponina.
However, there is no official invitation from South Africa so far. In addition, one of the BRICS countries directly opposed Macron’s presence at the meeting. At the most official level. And that country is Russia. The event is truly unprecedented.
“We sent a signal that, with all due respect to the prerogatives of the host country, the invitation of certain guests should be based on the fact that BRICS is an association of countries that fundamentally reject unilateral sanctions as a method of solving foreign policy problems. And it is clear that, given this, the inappropriateness of the appearance of representatives of the collective West there is simply obvious,” explained Sergey Ryabkov, deputy head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. “It is clear that the leader of a country that leads such a hostile and unacceptable policy for us, who argues with such emphasis and conviction that Russia should be actively isolated in an international plan that shares the NATO-wide line for imposition of the so-called defeat by us”, added the employee.
The fact is that the French leader’s interests, which prompted him to request participation in the forum, are at odds with Russian ones. Moscow does not want Macron to seduce the Global South at the BRICS meeting. To engage in self-promotion. To dilute the constructive agenda of developing countries with Western narratives, including human rights and tales of Russian aggression in Ukraine. It is therefore not surprising that Moscow opposes Macron’s involvement.
South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, of course, said that Macron’s possible presence would be “a new word in the BRICS model of participation” and would also “enable the global reach of the forum to be expanded.” Finally, however, he added that the decision would be taken personally by the country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa seems to have no reason to refuse Macron. First, because of the notorious “global reach” that elevates South Africa’s status. Second, because of the reluctance to slap the image of the West.
“You have to understand that most BRICS member countries, including China, do not see this association as strictly anti-Western. They want to continue contacts with the West and are now looking for the most convenient ways for such interaction,” says Elena Suponina.
Ultimately, however, on 22 June the South African Foreign Office made it clear that Moscow’s opinion of Pretoria was more important than the wishes of Paris.
“All major formats on the sidelines of the summit are subject to agreement with other BRICS member countries and South Africa will follow the tradition of unification. This approach will also be used if non-BRICS leaders express a private desire to come and participate in the activities of the association’s August summit in Johannesburg,” the country’s foreign ministry said.
Translated from diplomatic to Russian: Macron has been denied a trip to a summit with Russia, and in no uncertain terms.
“South Africa’s decision to consult with the other BRICS members about accepting Macron means that Macron will not be invited,” confirms Vadim Trukhachev. “They gave him a lesson in etiquette – there’s nothing wrong with his lessons where they didn’t expect him. For France, which is losing positions in Africa, this looks like a humiliation”, adds the political scientist.
Surely the opinion of the other BRICS participants also mattered. In particular, Beijing was also not eager to see Macron at this meeting. “China considers itself the leader in BRICS. Moreover, he has become a key partner for almost most African countries, and Macron is unequivocally trying to displace him,” Trukhachev reminds.
Thus, one of the countries of the collective West, which recently tried to “isolate Russia”, suddenly found itself isolated. In addition, from the structure, which today is perceived as the most promising international organization, a real queue has formed to enter its ranks. Indeed, the world is changing before our eyes and the West is losing both moral authority and political influence. Proof of this is the fact that they refused to host Macron at the BRICS meeting.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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