The BRICS lineup expanded, Saudi Arabia and other five countries joined, and Argentina said "no"!
Hey, have you heard that the BRICS coterie has been busy lately! They have officially welcomed five new partners: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran and Ethiopia. This is not small news, after all, every time the BRICS expands the world's economic map, it means that the world economic map has to be redrawn.
Let's count how much weight these new faces have brought to the table. With a combined population of hundreds of millions, the total GDP is an astronomical figure. Do you feel that exuberant energy and unlimited potential? But then again, there was one absentee in this celebration that was quite noticeable – Argentina.
Don't think Argentina wasn't invited, they're actually quite popular. However, Argentine Foreign Minister Mundino threw out a "shock bomb" in an interview a few days ago: They decided not to join the BRICS! The reason is that, on the one hand, the current President Milley wants to get closer to the United States, and on the other hand, the relationship with China is also a bit delicate.
Let's dig a little deeper into the story. You know, Argentina's economy is not very good right now. At times like these, joining the BRICS could have been an opportunity for them to turn things around. It's just that after President Milley took office, his policy turned around, and it seems that he is more willing to put his chips on the United States.
Remember that time in 2023? Argentina received an invitation from the BRICS countries. However, feng shui took turns, and President Milley began to adjust his foreign policy after taking office. Now it seems that he is not in a hurry to get too close to the BRICS.
Even the foreign media have expressed their opinions on this matter. Reports of China's recent suspension of a currency swap agreement with Argentina may reflect some change in the relationship between the two.
But don't forget, there's a lot more to be known about this drama. For example, who will fill the position that Argentina has given up now?
Still, in the midst of all the speculation and anticipation, we can still hear some positive voices. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has made it clear that it has full confidence in the future of BRICS and looks forward to more cooperation among its members.
Remember: the world is always changing, and the BRICS countries are adding new impetus – despite the complexity of diplomatic relations and economic considerations, the possibilities and the future are still worth looking forward to!