The director of the BRICS Policy Center (BPC) at PUC-Rio, Marta Fernández, gave an interview to the newspaper O Estadão

The director of the BRICS Policy Center (BPC) at PUC-Rio, Marta Fernández, gave an interview to the newspaper O Estadão about the impacts of escalating tensions in the Middle East on BRICS.

In the interview, the professor highlights that, although the current conflict will not render the group unviable in the short term, it could lead to a slowdown in its expansion process, given the increase in geopolitical tensions between its members and partners.

The director also points out that, in times of crisis, it is common for national security interests to override cooperation initiatives, which could result in a temporary demobilization of BRICS. On the other hand, she emphasizes that the scenario of instability could strengthen, in the medium term, the search for greater coordination among countries of the Global South.

Furthermore, the professor also analyzes the role of India, the current president of the group, highlighting the challenges of its multi-alignment strategy in the face of more intense geopolitical crises, which tend to require more defined positions.