Serbia says it’s better off joining BRICS than the European Union. The country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vulin, claims BRICS offers much more than the EU and demands nothing in return.
Vulin made these remarks in an interview with National Defense magazine. He emphasized that Serbia sees cooperation with BRICS as an opportunity for economic and political freedom.
BRICS is expanding and offers Serbia a chance to form alliances with countries that don’t pressure them politically.
BRICS membership is different
Vulin pointed out that BRICS is not like the EU, which imposes strict political conditions. It doesn’t interfere with Serbia’s internal affairs. Vulin said:
“BRICS membership doesn’t require us to change our laws, give up Republika Srpska, or recognize Kosovo’s independence. We’re not forced to wave the Ukraine flag or legalize same-sex marriages. There’s no pressure to impose sanctions or hand over our foreign policy decisions.”
BRICS offers massive economic potential. It controls 51% of the world’s gas and 47% of its oil. It has also surpassed the G7 in GDP.
This makes it a powerful alternative to Western economic blocs. Vulin said Serbia doesn’t need to sacrifice its sovereignty to be part of this group. In his words:
“We can cooperate economically with a group that doesn’t interfere in our domestic policies.”
Serbia has been seeking EU membership for years but hasn’t made any progress. Vulin made it clear that the country will not compromise its relationship with Russia just to join the EU.
“Serbia will not go to war with Russia to become an EU member. We will not impose sanctions against Russia either,” he said.
For Serbia, BRICS is also about maintaining military neutrality and avoiding entanglements in Western politics.
Vulin believes that Serbia is better suited for partnerships based on mutual respect and equality, values that BRICS stands for. He said Serbia is ready to cooperate with organizations that respect its military neutrality.
BRICS expands
The BRICS bloc is growing. Along with the original five members, new countries are joining the ranks. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Cuba also wants to join, as announced by its Foreign Minister, Carlos Miguel Pereira. He said that Cuba officially requested its inclusion in the BRICS as a “Partner Country” through a letter to President Vladimir Putin.
This request comes just before the annual BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22 to 24.
Azerbaijan is also pushing for membership after a meeting between Putin and President Ilham Aliyev. BRICS membership is by invitation only. Not every country that shows interest gets in. Some, like Argentina, have declined the invitation.
In Moscow, finance ministers from some BRICS countries gathered for a high-level meeting ahead of the summit.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov called for the creation of an alternative to the Western-dominated financial system.
This was a critical topic as Russia, sanctioned heavily by the West, has been cut off from international capital markets. Siluanov proposed many initiatives to strengthen BRICS economically.
These include the Bridge international payment system, a BRICS clearing center, a rating agency, and a reinsurance company.
But not all finance ministers from BRICS countries attended the Moscow meeting. China, India, and South Africa sent lower-level officials.
The absence of top representatives hints at potential Western pressure to downplay the BRICS summit. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has accused the West of discouraging participation in BRICS initiatives.
Russia has been facing delays in international transactions, even with BRICS partners. Their banks are hesitant to engage with Russia due to fears of Western sanctions.
To overcome these obstacles, Russian companies have resorted to barter deals and cryptocurrencies. The development of a BRICS-specific payment system could potentially eliminate these issues, giving Russia and other member countries more freedom in international trade.
China’s delegation in Moscow was led by Deputy Finance Minister Liao Min and Deputy Central Bank Governor Changneng Xuan. India sent Finance Ministry Secretary Ajay Seth.
The summit will bring together leaders from nine of the 10 BRICS countries. Saudi Arabia will be represented by its foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, instead of its head of state.
