/ world today news/ Two news from these days give a clear picture of how difficult it is to shape the new world order, both of which are related to international summits. Vladimir Putin will not personally attend the BRICS summit in South Africa next month – he will participate in its work in the format of a video conference. And at the EU-Latin America summit, the Europeans failed to include words condemning “Russian aggression against Ukraine” in the resolution. If we evaluate this news in the form of a duel between Russia and the West, then the result should look 1:1: the West, with the help of an ICC warrant for Putin’s arrest, prevented our president from visiting South Africa, and Russia’s Latin American friends blocked the attempts to put collective pressure on our country. But such an approach would be a simplification of reality – much more complex.
Russia challenged not only the West, but the entire system of globalization it created. It also includes the International Criminal Court (in the creation of which not all countries, including the leaders, participated) and the format of summits of major regional unions, as in the case of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CLAC). ). The meeting of Latin Americans and Europeans took place for the first time in eight years – and it was very important for European countries to show that Latin Americans support their position on the Ukrainian conflict. Latin America needs Western investment, so it seemed to Brussels that non-binding words condemning Russia could be inserted into the general resolution. This will not change the neutral position of Latin America – most countries of the region retain both economic and political ties with Russia, but it will allow the West to talk about international condemnation of our country. Some countries from Latin America, however, declared themselves categorically against – Cuba, Venezuela and especially Nicaragua. As a result, only words remained in the resolution about “deep concern about the continued military actions against Ukraine”, and the position of the majority of Latin Americans was expressed by the current chairman of ODLAC, Ralph Goncalves:
„What is happening in Ukraine can be understood in general if we remember that some big countries always encroach on smaller ones, as happened in Latin America. And that’s why we believe the same principles should apply to everyone.”
Yes, this is a direct allusion to the USA with its Monroe Doctrine and dozens of interventions south of its borders, but as Europe is increasingly subject to American politics, then you should not be surprised when it is perceived primarily as part of the West , and not as an independent force that has the right to teach others.
At the same summit, Europeans on the sidelines asked Latin Americans not to rush into BRICS. It was primarily about Argentina and Venezuela. The motive is clear: it is not worth strengthening the pro-Russian bloc during the confrontation between Russia and the West. But both in Buenos Aires and in Caracas they make their own decisions about their future – and outside forces cannot influence their desire to join BRICS. The queue for association already includes several dozen countries, and the first decisions on enlargement may be taken as early as August’s BRICS summit in Johannesburg.
At which, as it finally became clear on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin will attend only online, and our delegation will be led by Sergey Lavrov. The president will not fly to South Africa because of the order issued by the ICC in March, so as not to confuse the authorities of the republic, who have not been able to find a way out of the situation. South Africa recognizes the ICC, but of course it would not arrest the president of Russia.
However, the country’s authorities were unable to find the necessary legal formulation to ensure the safety of Putin’s stay in South Africa – several factors influenced it at the same time. Foreign policy: with all the importance for the country of relations with the BRICS, relations with the West also play an important role, which threatens with all sorts of consequences in the event of the arrival of the Russian president. The South Africans did not dare to stop the recognition of the ICC – and the domestic political factor also played a role in the case. South African elites (even within the ruling ANC) are heterogeneous and in conflict with each other. Current President Ramophosa does not have all the necessary levers to control the situation, and as icing on the cake we can add that former President Zuma, who was wanted in prison, is now receiving treatment abroad. And not anywhere, but in Russia.
Meanwhile, President Ramophosa’s visit to Russia is expected next week, despite the fact that he was recently in our country. But if the last trip was part of the peacekeeping mission of the African Union, now the head of South Africa will come to the second Russia-Africa summit. In other words, relations between our countries will definitely not suffer if Putin does not fly to Johannesburg this time. And the BRICS meeting itself will be another step towards building a new, post-Western world. A difficult road. But there is no other way in cases of this magnitude. The Western-centric world has been taking shape for half a millennium, and its dismantling will be many times faster.
Translation: V. Sergeev
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