With western countries threatening Russia with sanctions, Moscow is turning its sight in other directions. Some experts believe that BRICS countries can challenge what is currently thought of as unipolar world order. For example, Veronika Krasheninnikova, Head of the Center for International Journalism and Research Rossiya Segodnya, says: "Indeed, BRICS has enough influence in the world to prevent a unilateral punitive initiative and BRICS economies are still the fastest growing economies in the world. This gives the countries the power to add some balance to the international economic situation and also to provide something that would ensure the development of international trade even in the conditions of the punitive sanctions that some countries in the world might decide to impose in the future to on one of the BRICS member states."
Here's some feedback:
Jean-Claude Meslin wrote:
“So far, a lot of talking but no concrete action. BRICS should also open the door for other nations to join it. The American "dictatorship" on World' s affairs must cease and the dollar must be replaced as the unique planet' s trading currency. Beside the United Nations headquarters must be removed from New-York and set in a really neutral and accessible location, where anyone can go (which is not the case now: a visa to enter America is needed.)”
Ig Nishn added:
“I'm not sure you can call it a unipolar world... but the BRICS group... has the potential to setup a beautiful monetary system that can further the cause of the developing economies of the world, as long as they do not endorse military campaigns...”
Meanwhile, Russia is also building and re-building ties with other countries. In light of Moscow's strained relations with Washington and US sanctions over Ukraine, Tom Wheeler, an independent political expert and former South African diplomat, said that the agreement between Russia and Cuba to reopen a Soviet-era intelligence facility in Lourdes near Havana is a way for Russia to “get back at the Americans”. This indicates that “Russia is intent on extending and increasing its interests and influence in the backyard of the US – in Latin America,” he added. The former diplomat also noted that stories of nations spying on each other have become commonplace since the case of the National Security Agency contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden, who published secret US government documents last year, gained publicity. Read the full analysis at en.ria.ru and tell us what you think.
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