Argentina officially rejects BRICS membership – DW – 12/29/2023

Argentina President Javier Miley sent letters to BRICS On Friday, world leaders announced the formalization of their decision to withdraw their country from the planned joining of the Alliance of Major Emerging Economies.

Miley said the moment was not “right” for Argentina to join as a full member.

The bloc – consisting of the G20 countries: Brazil, Russia, IndiaChina and South Africa – in August announced their acceptance Six new members.

Membership of Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaEgypt and the United Arab Emirates, and was scheduled to enter into force as of January 1, 2024.

BRICS countries It currently represents about 40% of the world's population and more than a quarter of global GDP, with as many as 14 countries mostly from Asia, Africa and the Middle East interested in joining the bloc.

Miley mirrors her predecessor's plans

The letters signed by Miley and published by several media outlets said that Argentina's membership “is not considered appropriate at the present time” but that Miley expressed his willingness to hold meetings with each of the five BRICS leaders.

Miley, who is not from the Liberal Party, took office this month after his resounding defeat of the traditional political parties in Argentina, and he had pledged during his election campaign not to join the BRICS group.

He said in his letters that his foreign policy “differs in many aspects from the policy of the previous government. In this sense, some decisions taken by the previous administration will be reviewed.”

Miley's predecessor, centre-left former President Alberto Fernandez, had supported joining the alliance as an opportunity to access new markets.

Argentina 'will not ally with communists'

Miley said during his election campaign, “Our geopolitical alliance is with the United States and Israel. We will not ally with the communists.”

Throughout the presidential campaign, Miley disparaged “communist”-ruled countries and declared that he would not maintain diplomatic relations with them despite increasing Chinese investment in South America.

Despite his pledge to cut ties with major trading partners China and Brazil, he has taken a more conciliatory tone since taking office.

Miley defines himself as an “anarcho-capitalist.” A series of measures have been implemented To liberalize the economy, which in recent decades has been characterized by state intervention.

Shortly after taking office Miley warned about his economic plansClaiming that “there is no alternative to austerity and no alternative to shock therapy.”

He insisted that his predecessors had left the country without money and on a path to hyperinflation.

MDS/LO (AFP, AP)