As NATO grows, why some Russian allies are likely backing away
globalnews.caNATO’s ranks are swelling, with Finland and Sweden joining or set to join and the alliance promising to admit Ukraine.
But Russia, who opposes Ukraine’s involvement, has allies who are set to hold their own summit in August.
South Africa has promised the meeting will go ahead – even though it is legally obligated, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he arrives.
Putin hasn’t said whether he’ll attend. He’s also denied the ICC’s allegations that he is responsible for deporting Ukrainian children.
His presence at the summit would test Russia’s allies’ allegiance to the Kremlin and international law if South Africa chooses not to follow through on its commitment as a member of the ICC.
Yet, with the war in Ukraine passing 500 days, an analyst told Global News Russia’s friends are distancing themselves.
“None of them want to go down with a loser,” said John Kirton, a political scientist at the University of Toronto and the director of the university’s BRICS research group, referring to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
BRICS was a cluster initially born in 2009 out of the desire to work together and counterbalance the dominance of the United States on the global stage. The countries have set up the New Development Bank to support their own growth and have discussed creating a new currency as an alternative to the American dollar.
While the four BRICS members other than Russia have not condemned the invasion of Ukraine, they’ve also not come to the Kremlin’s aid.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has proposed peace talks between Ukraine and Russia – albeit with a plan requiring Ukraine to cede invaded territory to Russia, which Kviv
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