BRICS Deadlock: Egypt and Ethiopia Decline Joint Statement Regarding Security Council Membership Aspirations

A recent meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New York marked a significant impasse, as it concluded without a joint statement for the first time. Disagreements primarily centered around support for UN Security Council membership aspirations of India, Brazil, and South Africa, reflecting the challenges of consensus among the expanded BRICS membership.

In a noteworthy development, a recent gathering of the BRICS foreign ministers in New York concluded without a joint statement, a first since the group’s inception. This meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, was anticipated to yield a comprehensive declaration covering various topics such as the ongoing Middle East conflict, the prospect of a unified currency, and initial discussions regarding the accession of additional BRICS nations set to convene in Kazan, Russia, later this year. However, reports from the Brazilian news outlet UOL, corroborated by the South China Morning Post, indicate that the conference ended in an impasse. A significant factor contributing to this deadlock appears to be the reluctance of newly incorporated BRICS members to endorse a crucial condition stipulated by Indian and Brazilian representatives. This condition requires the newcomers to support the permanent membership aspirations of India, Brazil, and South Africa within the United Nations Security Council, a stipulation that new members resisted.

The BRICS grouping, consisting of major emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has expanded its membership to include several additional countries, a move approved during last year’s summit. This expansion was founded on the premise that the new members would back the ambitions of existing members seeking permanent representation in the UN Security Council. The recent meeting in New York showcased the complexities inherent in this evolved dynamic, highlighting the challenges of forging consensus among a larger and more diverse membership.

The failure to achieve a joint statement at the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting underscores the growing difficulties in uniting the interests of an increasingly diverse coalition of nations. The insistence on new members endorsing the Security Council aspirations illustrates a significant point of contention that could hinder future collaboration within the group.

Original Source: www.scmp.com