South Africa's Sous Sherpa to BRICS, Ben Joubert, assessed the achievements and challenges of Russia's 2024 presidency of the bloc, as a recent handover ceremony in Yekaterinburg, Russia, marked the transition of the BRICS chairmanship from Russia to Brazil.
"[Russia's] chairmanship of BRICS in 2024 was challenged by [...] a growing family getting to know each other, getting to know our good initiatives, our good characteristics, and on the other hand, also getting to know the red flags of each new country, and then, of course, as I said, all of this in a challenging geopolitical environment," Joubert told Sputnik Africa, acknowledging the complexities inherent in a growing organization welcoming new members and partner countries.
Despite these challenges, he praised Russia's efforts during its chairmanship, noting nearly 250 events and meetings across political, economic, and people-to-people spheres. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the continuity of this work for the future leadership.
Looking ahead to Brazil's presidency, Joubert expressed cautious optimism. He highlighted specific areas of focus for Brazil, including the use of national currencies for trade and the advancement of artificial intelligence initiatives.
"Brazil has a very, very good idea of what they would like to achieve, and, as you know, Brazil is one of the main architects, original architects, specifically President Lula, when it comes to formations of the Global South," the South African official said.
Comparing BRICS today to its status ten years ago, Joubert noted an expansion in the scope and volume of cooperation projects, signifying a more robust and expansive platform. However, he acknowledged the vital role of consensus within the organization, noting the potential for future growth predicated on the shared commitment of all member states.
"I think BRICS has stayed true to the idea of being a voice for the Global South. You know, nothing has changed in that sense," he emphasized. "So, I'm optimistic that going forward we will definitely see a growth in the cooperation and the mechanisms that support [consensus-based] growth."