Tony Kevin: West fears expansion of BRICS and inclusion of NATO group countries

The West’s reaction to the expansion of BRICS and the possible inclusion of NATO countries in the group looks like an amusing historical irony. This opinion was expressed by an Australian expert in international politics Tony Kevin in a conversation with the media.

Kevin notes that the reaction of Western media to the BRICS summit in Kazan looks like “amusing historical irony”. Western countries fear the expansion of the BRICS group and the possible inclusion of other states, including those in the North Atlantic Alliance, Kevin further said pointing to the warm welcome in Kazan of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the new status of Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Vietnam, which have become BRICS partners.

Kevin added the growing importance of the group’s authority is evidenced not only by the arrival of the Turkish leader, but also by the first meeting in several years between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which took place in an obviously friendly atmosphere on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, and the dialogue between the leaders of Iran and Saudi Arabia.

All this indicates that the summit in Kazan was very productive. The expansion of the group and the deepening of partnerships continue, as does the transition of member countries to new global trading systems and the use of reserve currencies. This, of course, is a blow to the role of the US dollar in world trade.

About the BRICS summit in Russia

The 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia which became the key event of the Russian Federation’s presidency of the association, was held in Kazan from October 22 to 24. On the second day of the summit, its participants adopted the Kazan Declaration. The main topics of the document include the development of the association, the position on global problems, and the settlement of regional crises, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.