Special interview/Brazil, BRICS hold plenary session to strengthen multilateralism

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Interview with Fabio Borges, Brazilian economist and professor at the Federal University for Latin American Integration, about the BRICS Summit taking place in Brazil. teleSUR

Transcript

00:00Let's go now deeper with the analysis with our next guest, Fabio Jorge, Brazilian economist

00:05and professor at the Federal University for Latin American Integration.

00:09Welcome Fabio to From the South.

00:11Good afternoon, thank you for the invitation.

00:15It's a pleasure.

00:17Fabio, these two days are being packed with activities and discussions at the BRICS summit.

00:22Yesterday we saw the first plenaries and the first day of debate and a final declaration

00:26that was signed by all participants, by all members and partner countries.

00:30What can you tell us of that first day and what is enshrined in that final statement?

00:34Well, the summit represents an important moment in a very unstable international system.

00:42It represents an alternative to the neoliberal global order that has generated social, environmental

00:51economic disasters, especially with Trump's current unilateral protectionist stance.

00:59The BRICS have become a very attractive to the countries in the global south.

01:05It represents a critical of the existing United Nations institution that no longer represents

01:12the correlation of the forces in global geopolitics.

01:16For example, the group represents almost half of the world's population.

01:21It has a GDP greater than the G7.

01:26Well, in the final declaration, we have five main points.

01:32The first one, strengthening multilateralism in reforming of global governance.

01:39Secondly, promoting peace, security, and stability in international systems.

01:45Thirdly, deepening international economic trade and financial cooperation.

01:50Four, combating climate change and promoting sustainable, fair, inclusive development.

01:58Five, partnership for promotion of human, social, and cultural development.

02:04I think it was a very important summit in the international system.

02:18Speaking about, you're referring to integration and the multi-polar world.

02:22What elements can you provide? How will it move forward and how can it replace what has been called by different actors within BRICS?

02:30They are calling to replace that obsolete, as has been described by the Russian foreign minister and president of Brazil,

02:36replace that obsolete neoliberal model that has hindered the development of the people.

02:41And that is how BRICS is coming as an alternative for this.

02:44How do you see it happening?

02:47I think there are a lot of important things in this way.

02:51First of all, it's clear. We live in a hegemonic transition for the unilateral system with the United States in the leadership.

03:06Now we have other forces, especially the BRICS, defending the multilateralism system.

03:14It's very clear in this moment, it is an acceptable international system without cooperation.

03:23I think BRICS represents the possibility of the cooperation, especially in transnational issues like environmental issues,

03:33in health issues. It's clear, it's impossible to combat these problems without cooperation.

03:42In this way, I think Brazil has a good player, a leader in this process, especially with historical

03:54role in the promoting cooperation, especially in climate change challenges.

04:01Especially now, I think it's very important economic cooperation with an unstable scenario,

04:09especially with the unilateral political of the United States.

04:15So, it's very interesting. We have now new members in BRICS group,

04:22representing the attractive group in an international system very unstable.

04:29We are reflecting the attractive position in this group,

04:34as an alternative on the neoliberal global order, in my opinion.

04:42And as just yesterday, Sunday, the BRICS members and partners and observers were reaffirming their

04:47integration, their cohesion to work for a multi-parallel role, we saw a quick reaction coming from the U.S.

04:52President Donald Trump with threats of imposing 10% tariffs, additional tariffs,

04:58on any country that support BRICS or is partners with BRICS. Is this a sign of concern from Trump's

05:05side that maybe they are afraid of losing their hegemonic power in the face of this growing power of BRICS?

05:11Exactly. In my opinion, this is a reaction of nations. It's losing power in the international system.

05:24But I think it's important that BRICS represents an alternative possibility with the economic world

05:34order without the United States. It's clear the United States is very important in international

05:41system, especially in security issues, in economic issues. But in this moment, with the

05:51disaster politically external in the United States, no doubt, it's important that there are alternatives

06:01like BRICS. So I think it's very important to understand it's possible international system

06:08working a little bit without the United States in this system. I think it's an important

06:20transformation in the international system in the last two decades.

06:26Thank you very much, Faulio, for your time and your input hearing from the south.

06:31Thank you. It was a pleasure for me. It was a pleasure to have you.

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