By Ayo Yusuf
The 15th BRICS Summit which ended on Thursday in South Africa has adopted the Johannesburg II Declaration with the bloc announcing an expansion of its members and a commitment to resolve conflicts through dialogue and inclusive consultations.
The heads of state of Brazil, India, China, and South Africa who were at the Summit and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who represented Vladimir Putin, agreed to support the new declaration encapsulated under the heading, “BRICS and Africa: Fostering Collaborative Growth, Sustainable Progress, and Comprehensive Multilateralism.”
One notable landmark of the summit which took place between August 22 and 24 was the expansion of its membership to incorporate six additional nations comprising Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina and the UAE. According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the nations will become integrated as full members with immediate effect from January 1, 2024.
The Johannesburg II Declaration, endorsed on the summit’s last day, also encapsulates the following pivotal points:
The BRICS nations ‘ Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa ‘ have solidified their commitment to collaborative global approaches and expressed concern over unilateral coercive measures that run counter to the UN Charter’s principles and disproportionately affect developing nations.
They urged for international organizations and multilateral platforms to be more representative of emerging markets and developing countries, and called for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council. This reform aims at enhancing democratic representation and effectiveness, enabling the Council to effectively address global challenges and support the aspirations of developing nations.
On peace and development,
the BRICS leaders highlighted their commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue and inclusive consultations. The leaders cited their individual positions on the Ukraine conflict, endorsing mediation and peaceful dialogue as pathways to resolution.
The bloc also underscored the importance of a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue in accordance with international law, urging the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for non-proliferation, peace, and stability.
In the area of Mutually Accelerated Growth, the leaders reasserted the significance of the G20 as the premier multilateral forum for international economic and financial cooperation and eagerly anticipated the upcoming 18th G20 Summit to be hosted in New Delhi under India’s G20 Presidency.
Moreover, collaboration on sustainable and transitional finance, information security, financial technology, and payments remains a key focus, with plans to build upon this cooperation in relevant work streams.
Similarly, in the light of climate change challenges, BRICS members committed to a just and sustainable transition towards a low-carbon and low-emission economy, in alignment with the Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) principle.
The leaders called for equitable transitions based on national development priorities, urging developed nations to lead by example and support developing counterparts in their transition efforts. Access to low-emission technologies and environmentally sustainable projects, along with affordable financial resources, was highlighted as crucial for addressing climate change.
The leaders of the BRICS nations also underscored the significance of fostering people-to-people exchanges for enhancing understanding, friendship, and collaboration among member states. They lauded the progress achieved during South Africa’s Chairship in 2023, particularly in media, culture, education, sports, arts, youth, civil society, and academic interactions. Acknowledging the pivotal role of such exchanges, they emphasized their contribution to societal enrichment and economic development.
Finally, on the matter of advancing Institutional Development within BRICS Framework, the meeting accepted the invitation extended by South Africa, in its capacity as BRICS Chair, to other Emerging Market and Developing Countries (EMDCs) as “Friends of BRICS”.” This engagement includes participation in BRICS meetings below the Summit level, the BRICS-Africa Outreach, and the BRICS Plus Dialogue, held during the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in 2023.
