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BRICS Buck the Rest of the World in Firmly Opposing Russia’s War on Ukraine

File image of the leaders of the BRICS countries. Sergio LIMA / AFP

In an odd alignment of diplomatic symmetry, the four non-Russian members of the BRICS group have all refused to join the global movement to condemn Russia for its assault on neighboring Ukraine. There’s no evidence that any of these countries are coordinating their response with one another but each is using a similar hedging strategy where they seem keen to try and keep all of their options open:

Brazil is sending mixed signals about its position on the war. On Friday, Brazil voted at the UN to denounce the Russian invasion but then on Sunday President Jair Bolsonaro said his government “will not take sides” while adding that he was “in solidarity with Russia.”

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