The photograph captures a moment of camaraderie among the leaders of Brics countries (China, India, Russia, Brazil, and South Africa) collectively representing 42% of the world's population and a third of its Gdp. Their enthusiastic discussions about the potential inclusion of Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were met with scepticism in the Western world. The struggle faced by European nations in attempting to coordinate - despite their shared history, traditions, and culture - highlights the complexity and challenges of forging economic and even political alliances. The glue holding Brics together is a desire to counter the West. However, these countries are profoundly distinct beneath the surface, with conflicting interests. While an expanded Brics may stimulate internal trade, the aspiration of creating an alternative to the Western economy, particularly China's push for an alternative to the Us dollar, remains a distant and unattainable goal. The need for a broad and open market is paramount in the current global economic landscape, ranging from highly developed nations to those still progressing. Trade barriers are detrimental to all. Thus, the Brics countries require the West, and the West requires them. On one hand, economic needs (including production systems) demand this cooperation. Conversely, the inherent disparities among the Brics nations render hollow the anti-Western rhetoric voiced after the Johannesburg summit. Nevertheless, it would be imprudent to underestimate the Brics' pursuit of expansion and alliance consolidation. Amid the Ukraine conflict and China's tech developments, the world should not be drawn into a confrontational divide between two blocks, a scenario in which all would suffer losses. Instead, fostering understanding and nurturing relationships is paramount. Upholding recognized principles where they are violated is essential. It falls upon the West to continue leading, or co-leading, the global economy, providing development opportunities rather than retreating into isolation. Simultaneously, the world around us is evolving at an unprecedented pace.
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