By Alejandra Garcia on October 24, 2024
Atilio Baron, photo: Bill Hackwell
The leaders of the Global South and East are rising their voices for a common purpose: a multilateral, equitable and fairer world, in which the most vulnerable nations and the developing countries can unite and join forces to achieve a change. The just concluded 16th BRICS Summit took place in the Russian city of Kazan, for three days leaders of emerging economies and special guests discussed the most pressing issues the international community is facing today, including sustainable development, eradication of poverty, climate change adaptation, unilateral sanctions as a political weapon, and the conflict in the Middle East.
In this context, Argentine political journalist Atilio Boron offered and interview to teleSUR news channel, in which he addressed the main highlights of this Summit’s agenda, and why it is set to mark a “before and after” in the world political order.
Alejandra García: The 16th BRICS summit is moving forward… What can you tell us of this year’s agenda and the impact it can have for Latin America, especially amid the manifested hatred professed by Argentina’s president Javier Milei for multilateralism and a change of world order?
Atilio Boron: Argentina did not take part in that meeting, and the decision of president Milei was absolutely based on his biased view of the western progressive forces, even amid the huge movement and policies evolving for the protection of human rights, economic progress and so on. Ever since Milei took office, he has been focused on changing the alignment of the Argentine establishment, different from the path of Latin American integration followed by the predecessor government. He has been allying the country with the U.S. and Israel, and repeating the foreign policy of not recognizing the BRICS and that’s the reason why Argentina is out.
AG: Cooperation within the BRICS format reaches many fields, especially in order to face media campaigns led by western powers against the people of the global south and beyond. So, how important is BRICS’s role to act as a counterweight we could say, against western hegemonic powers?
AB: The BRICS has been doing a very important job, and now, with the enlargement of the BRICS, the voice of the Global South it will be even greater. A lot of these discussions were centered on economic and political issues, but I think that BRICS is also fighting a battle in the communications sphere in this point, I would like to see an articulation of the different countries to promote the voice of the people of the Global South. We know that one of the mechanisms of colonial domination in the hands of the U.S. and its European partners is that they have almost the absolute control of the mass media, and this was one of the missing items in the final declaration of the BRICS. I hope that someone raises the question and include that chapter, promoting the possibilities of an International declaration of a system of Communication in order to be sure that the voices of the south are heard.
AG: Unfortunately, as the BRICS summit takes place, the Israeli genocide against the people of Palestine continues, as well as the increased aggressions against Lebanon and Syria. This was also on the table of this Summit… How can BRICS help bring an end to Tel Aviv’s expansionist policy, and secure peace and stability in the region?
AB: The declaration has very strong wording against Israel, and against its attacks against Iran and the genocide going on against Gaza. The declaration also calls for the immediate creation of two states: the state of Israel and the state of Palestine; and the immediate recognition of Palestine as a member country of the United Nation. This is a very strong claim within an international mechanism, and a very strange one in this type of scenario. I hope that this urgent call is heard by the UN, which has to undergo a very comprehensive reorganization in order to make it more effective and more democratic. Today, the UN is neither democratic, nor effective as proven, once again, by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and other sections of Palestine.
AG: During the summit, president Vladimir Putin held bilateral meetings with leaders of member nations and other special guests, but I would like to know your opinion on the exchange held by the host of the BRICS Summit and the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. What was the relevance of this meeting?
AB: It is very important because both Russia and Venezuela have powerful oil resources and the incorporation of Venezuela, which is not decided yet, will strengthen the capacity of the BRICS to make a difference in the international scenario. In addition, we need to keep in mind that Putin has been demonized by the western press. However, the fact that Russia was able to hold this summit and have nations represented during the Khazan meeting is an enormous victory for Russia and is also a very important victory for Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro to be able to have a bilateral dialogue with one of the most powerful and influential politicians of the world.
AG: In just a few days, as every year the United Nations will vote on Cuba’s resolution against the U.S. Blockade… how this Brics summit has supported Cuba’s historical claim against this over 60 decades long policy?
AB: In this summit in Russia we have seen Latin American states leaders and representatives present, like Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, being actually the first Venezuelan president to attend this event since the foundation of the BRICS in 2008, and also Cuba, Bolivia, and Colombia where there, and it is very important for the region. Although Latin America is right next to the United States, leaders of the region are choosing a change, a new path far from the hegemony imposed for decades by the U.S. In this reality, the BRICS are pushing for an end of all sorts of impositions and sanctions that violate the sovereignty of the nations and their right for self-determination. BRICS is demonstrating that there is an alternative, and it is now more important than ever.
AG: Israel’s policy of blockading Gaza has resulted in hunger and dire health conditions… the U.S blockade against Cuba similarly has resulted in difficult conditions for ordinary Cubans, and we saw that a few days ago with the almost total blackout suffered by the island… how do you see blockades and sanctions as foreign policy tool when this affects the population of a country.
AB: The BRICS have been emphatic about how unilateral sanctions are being used as an imperialist tool by the U.S. and some of its European allies against countries that do not align to their political goals. In fact, if we if we look between the lines, the European Union, shortly after the Kazan declaration was released, it stated that that community does not agrees with this summit, while it does support the illegal sanctions imposed by the U.S. and remain silent in the face of Israel’s genocide in the Middle East, as a clear proof of its double standard. We can’t see a total hope, but, the BRICS are for sure pushing significantly for a change.
AG: Why is it important for the leaders of developing countries and the Global South to meet, to debate, to be united?
AB: The future of humanity is not going to be like these past colonial centuries and I will argue that today colonialism continues. Western powers have a monopoly and are strangling the most vulnerable peoples of the world more than ever. But, at the same time we see this intrinsic rebellion, with so many peoples, billions and billions, the majority, all over the world who are tired of the inequality, regimes and hunger. This means that a few are leading from the west, with the U.S. leading the way, along with their puppet allies, who believe they can dominate the future of humanity. However, from Khazan, Russia, we are hearing something completely different. We are hearing cooperation in terms of peace, cooperation in terms of mutual benefits, with a program that is looking forward for the preservation of the environment, and to preserve the world that we need, one that our children need, and the generations to come.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – English