Abstract
The BRICS countries assemble 42% of the world population, contribute with 18% of the global GDP and 17% of the global research and development investments. Thus, it is easy to grasp the benefits that such an association of countries can bring to its individual members. However, Brazil should strategically consider the threats involved and the risks that may arise from a partnership with countries like China and Russia, which are heavy players in international politics. Indeed, the BRICS association can be damaging to the prestige of the Brazil if it is not shaped in a way to prevent the unwelcome effects of other members geopolitical ambitions. This article sheds light on aspects of the BRICS that are detrimental to Brazil’s strategic interests and examines the risks involved, in order to conclude on limitations the country should consider for the group’s agenda. RESUMO Os paises do BRICS ¾ Brasil, Russia, India, China e Africa do Sul ¾ reunem 42% da populacao mundial, contribuem com 18% do PIB global e 17% dos investimentos globais em pesquisa e desenvolvimento. Assim, e facil compreender os beneficios que essa associacao de paises pode trazer para cada um de seus membros. No entanto, o Brasil tambem deve considerar estrategicamente as ameacas envolvidas e os riscos que podem surgir de uma parceria com paises como China e Russia, que sao atores importantes na politica internacional. De fato, a associacao BRICS pode prejudicar o prestigio do Brasil se nao for moldada de forma a evitar os efeitos indesejados das ambicoes geopoliticas de outros membros. Este artigo lanca luz sobre aspectos do BRICS que sao prejudiciais aos interesses estrategicos do Brasil e examina os riscos envolvidos, a fim de concluir sobre as limitacoes que o pais deve considerar para a agenda do grupo. Keywords: BRICS, agenda, threats and risks. Palavras-chave: BRICS, agenda, ameacas e riscos. Recebido em 06 de Fevereiro de 2019 | Received on February 6, 2019 Aceito em 12 de Marco de 2019 | Accepted on March 12, 2019 DOI: 10.12957/rmi.2018.40009
Highlights
Belonging to a group of relevant States like China, Russia and India is a significant development for any country and Brazil is not an exception
Considering the remarkable differences among the BRICS members in terms of regional contexts, economic capacities, political interests and global strategies, some aspects should be considered by Brazil to properly place itself in the group
Considering that the BRICS partnership is strategic to Brazil, the participation in the group should be pragmatic, strictly
Summary
Belonging to a group of relevant States like China, Russia and India is a significant development for any country and Brazil is not an exception. The Constitution establishes that Brazil will seek the economic, political, social and cultural integration of the peoples of Latin America, aiming at the formation of a Latin American community of nations In line with such principles and guidance, the National Defense Policy (Brasil, 2012) establishes the following objectives related to the international arena: to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, to contribute to regional stability and to develop the national defense industry in order to obtain autonomy in indispensable technologies. Despite the capacity it has been showing to manage an elevated number of activities and projects, the group functions like a non-institutional mechanism that organizes meetings and sectorial activities without a secretariat (Santos Neto, 2018) Such an informal arrangement has been convenient to Brazil, due to the discrepancy in terms of power among the BRICS members and the fact that they do not broadly share the same political views. The latter should receive from the Brazilian authorities a special attention
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