BRICS bloc adds six new members
The BRICS group of emerging economies has admitted six new members, its leaders announced on the final day of the bloc’s 2023 Summit held in Johannesburg. Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were announced as the new members added to the bloc starting from January 2024. In this interview with […]
BRICS countries continue to retain their independence
Some political analysts have assessed that the BRICS nations may adopt a more obvious anti-Western stance, but South Africa, India, and Brazil have all expressed that they hope to maintain close relations with traditional Western partners. In this interview with World Journal, SAIIA’s Senior Researcher Gustavo De Carvalho says member countries ‘continue to retain their independence, […]
The BRICS expansion expected to be high on the summit agenda
Leaders from five developing nations, accounting for nearly half the world’s population, gathered in Johannesburg for the 15th BRICS Summit, with the expansion of the emerging market grouping, the war in Ukraine and relations with the West all high on the agenda. In an interview with CNBC, SAIIA’s Senior Researcher Gustavo De Carvalho said final decisions […]
Can BRICS create a new world order?
More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining the five-nation BRICS group. But to challenge the US-led global hierarchy, the BRICS first need to overcome internal fissures. In this interview with Al Jazeera, SAIIA’s Senior Researcher Gustavo De Carvalho says ‘the de-dollarisation initiatives of the BRICS, as a group, are not aimed at replacing […]
BRICS expansion hopefuls seek to rebalance world order
An expansion of the BRICS bloc under consideration at the 2023 summit has attracted diverse potential candidates with one thing in common: a desire to level a global playing field many consider rigged against them. In this interview with Reuters, SAIIA’s Head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme Steven Gruzd says ‘they may have over-inflated […]
The BRICS club of emerging nations debates letting others in
South Africa, the last country to join the BRICS bloc, in 2010 on China’s invitation, will have to walk a fine diplomatic line with its allies in the West. In the coming months, South Africa will turn its attention to its second-largest trading partner after China, the United States, hosting a meeting about a continental […]
SA army might be missed in DRC regional force
The struggling South African army will be hard-pressed to make a meaningful contribution to a planned new regional force that is supposed to bring about peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). SADC wants the new force to be deployed by the end of September, but there is still no clarity on the […]
African exports to China plunge
China’s push to promote imports from Africa has yet to boost trade numbers, with shipments from the continent falling 12.4 per cent to US$53 billion in the first half of 2023, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs. South Africa had a brighter trade outlook than most of the continent. In this interview with South China […]
Why key global players are turning their focus on Africa
With geopolitical confrontation and tensions deepening, the key global players are swiftly turning their focus on Africa. In practical terms, African leaders are also making strategic choices based on their development paradigms. While Russia has been struggling to make inroads into Africa these years, the only symbolic event was the first Russia-Africa summit held in Sochi. […]
Ukraine war looms large over Russia-Africa Summit
The second Russia-Africa Summit set for 27 to 28 July in St Petersburg which will see African leaders are to meet with Russian President Vladimir, comes as Moscow continues to wage war against Ukraine. In this VOA interview, SAIIA’s Head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme Steven Gruzd argues that there will be a lot […]