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China In Eurasia Briefing: A Brief Guide To The High-Profile BRICS Summit

By Reid Standish October 23, 2024

akhstan caught observers off-guard when it said that it will "most likely" refrain from joining the group of countries.

What You Need To Know: Kazakh presidential press secretary Berik Uali told Kazakh media on October 16 that Kazakhstan had received a proposal to become a BRICS member, but that the Central Asian country didn't plan to join and would prioritize its relations through the United Nations.

Some analysts have said that Kazakhstan joining BRICS could strain its relationships with the West, which could affect investments and economic partnerships, and throw its foreign policy off-balance.

Others have also noted that the announcement ahead of the summit may have rubbed Russia the wrong way. The day after the comments, Russia banned fruit and lentil exports from Kazakhstan.

Other countries have also approached BRICS membership with caution. Saudi Arabia was formally invited to join the group, but has not yet officially accepted and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman will not be in Kazan.

Argentina was also invited to join, but President Javier Milei pulled out in December 2023 shortly after taking office.

Across The Supercontinent

New Sanctions Expected: The United States is set to announce new sanctions as early as next week aimed at curbing Russia's Ukraine war efforts, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on October 22.

Chinese firms, which have sustained Russia, are likely to be targeted. On October 17, Washington imposed sanctions on two Chinese companies and an affiliated Russian company involved in making and shipping drones that Russia has used in Ukraine.

Guterres In Town: Putin will meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Kazan on October 24, the last day of the BRICS summit.

Locked On Taiwan: China held a live-firing exercise from its territory closest to Taiwan one week after it launched a large-scale drill encircling the island.

Fanning The Flames: U.S. intelligence officials warned on October 22 that "foreign actors" from Russia, China, and Iran were intent on fanning narratives to divide Americans ahead of the November 5 U.S. presidential election and beyond.

One Thing To Watch

Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are both attending the BRICS summit in Russia as they inch toward a reassessment period. Both countries see each other as potential future adversaries and have grappled with tensions recently, including after many Indian and Chinese soldiers died in border disputes.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/brics-china- eurasia-dollar-summit-putin/33169958.html

Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.