BRICS Breakout: Expanding the Non-West

Diplomacy 101: Undiplomatically Speaking

Where Beliefs Clash and Stories Flash

BRICS Breakout: Expanding the Non-West

The BRICS summit in Johannesburg concluded with a historic announcement: the bloc will officially expand in January 2025 to include Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE. The move marks the most ambitious restructuring of the bloc since its inception.

China and Russia framed the expansion as a blow to Western hegemony, while Brazil and India emphasized development cooperation and strategic autonomy. South Africa, as host, positioned itself as a bridge between Africa and the emerging world order.

Western responses ranged from dismissive to cautiously interested. The G7 foreign ministers met informally to assess the implications, particularly around global financial governance and the potential for de-dollarization trends to accelerate.

Beyond symbolism, the expanded BRICS now represents nearly half the world’s population and a significant share of global energy and food production. Whether it can turn numbers into collective action remains the next test.

Democracy Dilemmas and Double Standards

Diplomacy 101: Undiplomatically Speaking

Where Beliefs Clash and Stories Flash

Democracy Dilemmas and Double Standards

This week, the global conversation turned once again to democracy—not in theory, but in the sharp contradictions that play out on the ground.

Pakistan’s delayed elections finally moved forward under military oversight, drawing criticism from Western observers and muted acceptance from China and the Gulf. The EU issued a statement expressing “concern and hope,” the usual diplomatic tightrope in such cases.

Meanwhile, in Myanmar, the junta tightened restrictions ahead of a UN Security Council briefing on the country’s humanitarian crisis. ASEAN remained largely silent, reaffirming its tradition of non-interference—even in the face of systemic repression.

In Latin America, Venezuela’s government announced a roadmap for elections in 2025, brokered with Norwegian mediation. Skepticism remains high, but so does international investment interest, especially in oil and mining sectors.

The tension between democratic norms and economic or strategic interests continues to define international posture—one carefully worded communiqué at a time.

Red Sea Realignments and Quiet Alliances

Diplomacy 101: Undiplomatically Speaking

Where Beliefs Clash and Stories Flash

Red Sea Realignments and Quiet Alliances

Mid-August brought renewed focus to maritime chokepoints and subtle shifts in alliance structures.

Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia signed a security cooperation pact focused on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest oil and trade corridors. The agreement includes naval training and joint port infrastructure investments, raising eyebrows in Cairo and Washington alike.

Simultaneously, Egypt resumed military coordination talks with the UAE and Greece over Mediterranean naval strategy, underlining how maritime policy is becoming central to regional diplomacy.

In the background, Israel and Jordan conducted rare backchannel discussions on energy and water cooperation—low-key but significant as broader regional dialogues remain gridlocked.

The world’s seas, once the realm of straightforward navigation, are increasingly the site of veiled negotiation and strategic signaling.

Debt Diplomacy and the Scramble for Influence

Diplomacy 101: Undiplomatically Speaking

Where Beliefs Clash and Stories Flash

Debt Diplomacy and the Scramble for Influence

The first week of August was defined by rising tensions over global debt and development financing, particularly in the Global South.

China hosted the Third Belt and Road Forum in Chongqing, where it announced $60 billion in fresh infrastructure lending across Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. Critics warned of mounting unsustainable debt, while Beijing emphasized “win-win cooperation” and touted its track record on ports, railways, and telecom projects.

Meanwhile, the IMF approved a $4.2 billion loan package to Egypt, accompanied by sweeping fiscal and subsidy reforms. The deal sparked protests in Cairo, reigniting the debate over austerity-driven conditionality in Western lending models.

India and Brazil launched a new South-South finance initiative under the IBSA framework, signaling middle powers’ intent to shape alternatives to both Chinese and Western debt diplomacy.

In today’s diplomacy, who holds the ledger increasingly decides who holds the leverage.