Italy has announced its formal withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative after joining the China-centered infrastructure and investment project in 2019.
The timing of the announcement that Rome won’t renew its BRI commitment is notable. It came only a day before the EU-China summit, which kicks off on Thursday. The summit will likely be more contentious than usual, with European leaders expected to push China on the treatment of EU firms amid discussions ...
Category: BRICS
Argentina Will Not Join BRICS, Says Incoming Foreign Minister
Argentina will not join the China-led BRICS group when President-Elect Javier Milei takes office, the incoming foreign minister said, emphasizing the many possible shakeups to come under the new administration. “We will not join the BRICS,” said Diana Mondino, who is set ...
Nigeria Eyes BRICS Membership
Nigeria hopes to become a member of the BRICS group of emerging economies in the next two years, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar. It also wants to join the G20. Tuggar told Bloomberg that “Nigeria has come of age ...
Ethiopia-China Ties Upgraded
China upgraded its relations with Ethiopia to an “all-weather” strategic partnership. The announcement came after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s meeting with Xi Jinping. The upgrade comes as Ethiopia is slowly emerging from its civil war and recently joined the BRICS group. ...
Running Into BRICS Walls: Enlargement Won’t Help BRICS Establish a New World Order
By Felix Brender 王哲謙 The BRICS bloc’s announcement to open its doors to new members has triggered considerable coverage and commentary suggesting the BRICS are setting themselves up to establish a new global order as an alternative to Western dominance, economic woes across ...
Venezuela Wants to Join BRICS
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s six-day visit to China has included stops in the economic and tech hubs of Guangdong, Shanghai and Shenzhen. He is also likely to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Venezuelan Executive Vice President Delcy Rodriguez met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier this week ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
Awkward Timing as Italy Withdraws from BRI
Odd One Out: Argentina in BRICS?
By Bruno Binetti The decision of the BRICS to invite Argentina to become a full member in 2024 came as a surprise even to the Argentine government. President Alberto Fernández had lobbied to enter the club, but the expectations were so low ...
TRANSLATION: Risks and Benefits if Indonesia Aligns With BRICS
The following is a summary translation of an article published in Bahasa on the Indonesian news website Tirto.id, written by reporter Andrian Pratama Taher, that combines several Indonesian analysts’ perspectives on the potential benefits and risks of Indonesia joining BRICS. ...
South African Avocados Are the Latest Entrant Into China’s Already-Saturated Market
Chinese consumers will soon be able to purchase South African avocados in their local supermarkets thanks to a new export agreement signed on the sidelines of last week's BRICS summit in Johannesburg. The move is part of a larger Chinese effort ...
A Closer Look At South Africa’s Electricity Deals With China
Details are emerging about expansive new cooperation agreements between South Africa and China on electricity. They were signed during last week’s BRICS summit in Johannesburg, and they were somewhat overshadowed by the focus on the bloc’s enlargement. But for South Africa, these deals ...
Modi Comes Under Intense Criticism Back Home After “Brief Conversation” With Xi
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came under withering criticism this weekend from his political rivals and the media back home for the way he handled a short, "informal" exchange with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of last week's BRICS summit in Johannesburg -- their first ...