Argentina could decline the offer to join the BRICS grouping next month, following the victory of Javier Milei in the country’s presidential election on Sunday, a top aide said on Monday.
BRICS Membership
Diana Mondino, Milei’s principal adviser on foreign affairs, said that the South American country would not proceed with plans to join the group of leading emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The membership would have come into force from January 2024.
“We do not understand the interest” in the bloc, Mondino told Russian news agency Sputnik News. “We do not understand … what Argentina gets out of it at this moment. If later it turns out that there is an advantage, of course, we will analyse it.”
Previously, self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist Milei had pledged that his government would “not do business with communist countries.” He also advocated breaking off relations with China in favour of ties with “the civilised side of the world.” Moreover, during the election campaigns, Milei accused China of financing ads in support of his opponent — incumbent finance minister Sergio Massa — on YouTube.
Argentina won’t join BRICS – newly elected president
— RT (@RT_com) November 20, 2023
Javier Milei pledged to stay away from China and Brazil, as well as to dollarize the country’s economyhttps://t.co/IP0BfsM9ky pic.twitter.com/dSaf69lduQ
Milei, a libertarian, has also been known for calling BRICS members China and Russia “assassin governments.”
Argentina’s new leader further lashed at the grouping for inducting Iran into the alliance, citing Tehran’s role in bombing a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in 1994, calling the memories “an open wound.” He also slammed Brazil for allowing the group to enter South America. “I defend liberty. China, Putin, and Lula don’t,” he said.
Response from China, Russia
When asked about the issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that BRICS is “an important” and “open… platform for stronger solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries to uphold common interest.” “We welcome all countries that are interested to become a member of the BRICS family,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said on Monday it had taken note of Milei’s campaign statements of wanting to scale back from relations with Moscow. However, the Kremlin expressed hope that the two countries could maintain strong ties.
“We noted a number of statements that Mr Milei made during the election campaign, but we will focus on and judge him mainly by the statements that he makes after the inauguration,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.