Русский
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the primary “BRICS Sherpa” has been interviewed by Tass concerning the development of the BRICS group during 2024. This is especially pertinent as Russia held the Presidency of BRICS during the year, hosting the annual BRICS summit in Kazan. The interview covered Russia’s Presidency of BRICS, clarification of BRICS Partner Status, Syria, Intra-BRICS payment systems, currency, space, A.I., human rights, the US dollar, the incoming Trump Presidency, and BRICS vs. NATO. We provide the questions asked, and Ryabkov’s responses.
Russia’s BRICS Presidency
Q: You opened Russia’s BRICS 2024 presidency, and now this year is coming to an end. What worked out and what didn’t work so well? To what extent has our program been implemented? Were there any surprises, and if so, what was the most unexpected?
SR: “Almost everything worked out. I would like to note the surprisingly positive, energetic response of the newcomers to all initiatives and proposals. The creative contribution of many participants to solving the most intricate problems, such as the creation of a financial and banking infrastructure alternative to Western payment systems and adjacent elements.
As for the disappointments, progress is slower than we would like on the tracks of practical cooperation between the BRICS, aimed, for example, at the creation of commodity exchanges. Although the idea has been implemented. The need to thoroughly explain the logic of the investment platform. It would seem to be an obvious thing: we do not have it, and it needs to be implemented, but we have to spend a lot of effort and time to chew up what’s what.
As for the lack of institutional strengthening of the BRICS, this is not a disappointment. Because BRICS is going through a phase of opening up to partner states and now is not the time for that. Some encumbrances in the form of international secretariats or other superstructures would only overload the boat.”
BRICS Member & Partner Status
Q: What is BRICS now: “Ten”? “Nine”? Do we count the Saudis or not?
SR: “Saudi Arabia continues in the same manner as it began the year. The Saudi’s participate in events that are of interest to them, but there is some distance from the development of documents and joint decision-making.”
Q: How have the “new recruits” of the BRICS shown themselves?
SR: “As mature, well-trained, energetic partners. No slippage, no artificial inflation of anything and a good response to new ideas.”
Q: Is the status of a “Partner Country” clear, is it quite formed? And if so, what is its peculiarity compared to full membership?
SR: “The status is quite developed. All States that have been invited to become partners have received detailed and specific explanations of what this status implies. By and large, it involves participation in the BRICS mechanisms, in some automatically, and in others by a separate consensus decision of the participating countries. And submitting their own ideas, if the partners have any, to the judgment of the “old-timers” – but without participating in the approval of documents and, of course, voting. In this sense, they are not allowed to make decisions.”
Q: What is the state of Syria’s application? If the new authorities of the country confirm the application, will this be considered?
SR: “Without a doubt. We are seriously considering the applications of all countries, and Syria is no exception. But we do not rush anyone, do not stimulate them to anything, and respect any choice. In the end, this is too serious an issue to chase formal indicators in terms of the composition of the participants.”
Q: You previously mentioned that one of the most important areas within BRICS is the system of payments and settlements. Do we understand now how far the partners are ready to go? If, say, in the new year, Brazil and Iran, as was discussed at the BRICS financial forum of the association in Moscow, are ready to move from words to action?
SR: “Of course. The scheme that is now on the table and which will be implemented is not a dollar substitution scheme in all calculations. This is a scheme for creating an additional contour for working in conditions where the main and familiar dollar channel fails for reasons beyond the control of the BRICS.
I will add that the financial scheme in itself, important as it is, is not sufficient for the system to function properly. We also need clearing mechanisms, and we are also dealing with this. And transaction insurance systems, including insurance for the movement of goods and cargo, which would also not be affected by sanctions. Taken together, this is the minimum that could allow the BRICS to say that things have moved forward, and a real alternative has appeared.”
BRICS In Space
Q: There was also a lot of talk about space. Is there any common project emerging?
SR: “If we talk about practical projects, this is a constellation of remote sensing satellites, to which the countries that are members of the BRICS have made their national contributions in various forms. And it works: these products are in demand, they are used. Now the question is that new participants should join this scheme, this agreement. Here, too, there is a certain movement; I hope that in the year of the Brazilian presidency it will be more intensive.”
BRICS and A.I.
Q: The subject of Artificial Intelligence is on everyone’s lips. Is it also in the foreground in BRICS?
SR: “Artificial intelligence is already among the main topics. This will set the tone for the Brazilian presidency. The specifics will be worked out in the mode of public-private partnership. The difficulties lie in the convergence of efforts: different countries have made different progress on this platform. There are obvious, objective leaders, and China is in the foreground. There are niche areas that are successfully moving forward in this area in each of the countries. There are also laggards; We will pull them up.”
BRICS and Human Rights
Q: The idea of the BRICS Human Rights Centre – is it something real, discussed and planned?
SR: “A sign of the popularity and recognition of BRICS is that many are now beginning to stick this label, this “trademark” on their own projects. I am not sure that this adds dynamics, but it is in this area that such a structure – informal, networked, uniting those who are engaged in this professionally and sustainably – would be useful. Because in this area, too, an objective view of human rights is needed, not distorted by Western ideology.”
BRICS and the US Dollar
Q: The threat of incoming US President Trump regarding the dominance of the dollar is in the foreground. (Trump threatened 100% tariffs be imposed on imported products of any BRICS country that replaced the US dollar in trade with a BRICS currency – ed) How serious and dangerous is it?
SR: “We are ready to explain to Trump and anyone else that we are not encroaching on the dollar. We draw conclusions from the irresponsible and fundamentally flawed policies that Washington has pursued in this area under successive administrations, including Mr. Trump’s first administration.
A classic assessment was given by President Putin: The United States are sawing off the branch on which they are sitting. This is true. In the absence of a way out of the impasses that the United States creates for itself and others, these mechanisms to find a way out have to be created by ourselves.
As for threats, we are used to the fact that the United States, regardless of the party coloration of the figures in the White House, uses nothing but threats. By and large, they have forgotten how to negotiate—no matter how much the future owner of the White House declares his commitment to the “policy of deals”. By the way, let’s check how ready he is for transactions.”
BRICS Global Influence
Q: Can we expect any reactions, maybe even a collective one, from the BRICS over global issues? Does the BRICS possess “soft power”?
SR: “I have not read stronger joint statements on the situation in the Middle East than the two pages of a very dense and super-energetic text that are devoted to this block of topics in the BRICS Kazan Declaration. (to read that, click here – ed)
I agree that BRICS is underperforming in terms of a quick and dynamic response to the changing situation. This is partly due to the fact that there are nuances in the approaches of countries to various kinds of subjects. In part, it is due to the lack of a culture of rapid response. We will form it.
In the past, there have been situations where thematic specialized statements have been issued. We will build up opportunities for their widespread promotion, including so that they are recognized by a wider audience as a “BRICS” product.”
Syria
Q: About Syria. Do the militants and those who stand behind them disrupt plans for BRICS and the transition to a multipolar world in general? And on geostrategic projects like the North-South corridor?
SR: “It doesn’t make it easier, of course. But it does not reset it either. Instead, it mobilizes and consolidates the will. As for transport corridors, there were no plans to create such in Syria.
There are other, no less significant geopolitical consequences of what is happening, which Iran, a BRICS member formulates better than we do, calling the groups most affected by what is happening the “axis of resistance”. But this is all from the category of a different geopolitics.”
Q: Who is behind the scenes in Syria?” Who is trying to give us a ‘counter check’? Is Kiev visible?
SR: “The United States is definitely visible. Of course, Israel is the beneficiary of what happened. And I would like to warn certain hotheads in West Jerusalem against the intoxication of opportunities. And to remind them that the annexation of the Golan Heights is categorically unacceptable. Israel needs to return to the full implementation of the 1974 agreement with Syria.”
Q: Does Russia discuss such topics with our partners in BRICS? Can BRICS help resolve the situation in any way?
SR: “In BRICS, we discuss everything related to the Middle East. Of course, this situation will also be the subject of consideration. Moreover, BRICS has long established a format of specialized consultations on the Middle East at the level of relevant deputy foreign ministers.
As the topic of an inclusive political process is becoming more and more relevant, the framework of the future political structure in terms of the organization and functioning of the Syrian government should be determined, and since what we see today is quite fragmented and literally transitional in nature. Of course, BRICS will naturally make this a subject of discussion. I hope that not just a discussion, but in-depth coordination and, ideally, the development of common approaches.”
Q: I heard media opinion that Moscow did not resist too much in Syria, so that the West would not be too reluctant on Ukraine. Is such a thing even imaginable?
SR: “I am against such artificial and detached from reality schemes. In Michurin’s (Russian genetic biologist – ed) time, attempts were made to graft pears on apple trees. In the first generation of trees, something worked out somewhere. But genetically, these experiments were not successful. The same is true here: attempts to either cross a grass snake with a hedgehog or exchange a kilogram of oranges for half a day’s holiday in Turkiye. I can’t imagine this.”
The 2025 Brazilian BRICS Presidency
Q: We are now handing over BRICS to Brazil. For Russia, what does this mean: do we take a breath and close the topic until the next Presidency?
SR: “It is the end of the year. Now we must bring the current situation with our partners to mind, and publish a list of issues that we have agreed upon. And to hand over the reins to the Brazilians. They will start without hesitation as soon as the seasonal holidays are over.”
Q: Russia has worked our year in BRICS. Do we now have a respite?
SR: “First of all, the burden of the BRICS Presidency, including the organizational side of holding events, coordinating calendars, aligning schedules with other international events–-of course, this burden will leave us. This will be done by the Brazilians. They are already doing this.
Then there are our initiatives put forward in our year of our BRICS Presidency. And there are many questions there. We have ideas about harmonizing tax services. We have a lot of procurement for customs affairs. We are capable of holding a whole series of events in support of the Brazilian Presidency in Russia, if the other participants agree. Any decisions both on sensitive and less sensitive issues in BRICS are made by consensus.”
BRICS 2025: NATO, BRICS Military and Dealing With Trump
Q: In your opinion, what conditions are needed for 2025 to be more calm and peaceful than 2024? And is the world majority, including in the BRICS format, ready to contribute to the formation of such conditions?
SR: “The world majority is already doing this, and in the most active way. All those countries that have recently put forward initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis in Ukraine and around it, are in one way or another connected with BRICS. Either they are part of the association, or, as we hope, they will become partners in the very near future.
But it is not only within this framework that the influence of the world majority on what is happening can be seen. It is also manifested that when voting on many issues at the UN General Assembly and at other platforms, we do not see the same timidity in defending national views, including as a counter to what is imposed by the collective West in this group.
The existence of BRICS is, in a sense, a “ray of hope” for those who, in the absence of BRICS, would probably find it more difficult to form a nationally oriented sovereign foreign policy.”
- Note this article has been translated and edited from the original Russian for English language transliteration purposes. The original can be viewed here.
Further Reading
Nine New BRICS Partner Countries From January 1, Four Pending, and 24 Applications
