Meet the failures club

[mahnmut]

BRICS. These countries were supposed to be the future economic superpowers that would eventually overcome the clumsy Western economies. But China is now pursuing goals of its own, Russia is pressed against the wall, Brazil and South Africa are lagging behind... What happened?

The BRICS meeting in China was a good chance for the host country to demonstrate their prowess right before the 19th congress of their Communist Party. To show off both to the world and at home. The sensitive topics were to be ignored for a while, lest any unrest be caused before the umpteenth re-grouping of the ruling elite. Only topics where relative consensus exists are to be touched, like free trade, climate change, and protection from cyber terrorism. Oh, and the challenges to the digitalized economy, a subject that's of particular importance for the Indian chairmanship of BRICS. Except, the big summit and the demonstrations of like-mindedness can't conceal the fact that China has long abandoned the main purpose of BRICS. With their New Silk Road initiative, they've shown they pursue their own goals and they want to increase their domination of the Asian continent.

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