BRICS Summit crowns innovative foreign policy
With security and objectivity, without provocations, Brazil is advancing in an alternative foreign policy; economic results are appearing; the strengthening of BRICS, closer ties with UNASUR, and a leading presence in the WTO contribute to the creation of a pole independent of US influence; without being "against anyone," as President Dilma Rousseff said regarding the international bank with US$50 billion in capital and a US$100 billion reserve fund, this assertive action contributes to the global balance of power; a new weight
247 - The sixth BRICS summit, which concluded on Wednesday the 16th in Brasília, brought to light the first concrete results of an alternative foreign policy that has been practiced by Itamaraty (the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), under President Dilma Rousseff's leadership, in recent years. Without grand celebrations, facing problems but, at the same time, without deviating from the chosen course, the country has been distancing itself from the political influence of the United States and from the traditional models of commercial partnership with Europe. Contrary to pessimistic projections, positive results are now appearing.
In actions that were criticized but effectively carried out on the political level, such as the lack of reaction to the separatist conflicts in Ukraine, and rapid moves in the economic field, such as the willingness to create the BRICS bank, Brazilian diplomacy began to take concrete actions – and not just formulate hypotheses. An example of this willingness had already been given, under Dilma's personal leadership, in the successful work surrounding the candidacy of Ambassador Roberto Azevedo to head the World Trade Organization. Being the underdog worked out well.
Now, with the New Development Bank on display, boasting US$50 billion in capital raised by Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa, and a US$100 billion contingency fund, the BRICS have gained organic structure and a powerful tool for action. Intending to begin operations as soon as possible, the five partners, introduced by President Dilma Rousseff, have established unprecedented contact with presidents from the American continent.
Unasur, an organization created at Brazil's initiative, was heavily represented at the meeting where the owners of the new financing institution presented the general guidelines for supporting infrastructure projects. At the same time, they indicated that the contingency fund could be used by different countries beyond the BRICS nations.
It's not a dream. Beyond boosting trade between Brazil and its BRICS partners, the organic structure of the BRICS establishes a new point of convergence for countries that, in the 1970s, were called 'non-aligned'. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) has always exerted influence over this group of countries, including many African and Middle Eastern nations, even without assuming a leadership role. But now, with a correction and expansion of its scope, encompassing giants like China and Russia, the power is different.
Before critical or even lukewarm reactions could emerge from the international community, President Dilma Rousseff stated that the BRICS bank "is not against anyone." The same applies to the political action that the group can gradually begin to develop more frequently in international forums such as the G20. In the form of BRICS, a new actor is entering the world stage.