John Kirby on BRICS Summit: No Threat Perceived by the US
In Washington DC, during the BRICS Summit from October 22 to 24, John Kirby, the White House National Security Communications Advisor, stated that the United States does not see the BRICS organization as a threat. Speaking at a press conference, Kirby emphasized that the summit should not be seen as a significant event for Russian President Vladimir Putin or Russia. He noted that BRICS is not a new organization and countries have the right to choose their associations.
Kirby remarked, “On the BRICS, you know, I don’t think that you should look at this BRICS conference as some sort of coming-out party for Mr. Putin and for Russia. First of all, the BRICS as an organization isn’t new, and we’ve long said, you know, these countries — every country gets to make sovereign decisions about who they associate with and in what format.” He added, “And, you know, we don’t view the BRICS arrangement as some sort of, you know, threat. These countries can decide for themselves who they want to associate with and especially how they want to be economically linked with one another.”
The BRICS Summit is being held in Kazan, Russia, under its chairmanship, with the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security.” The summit provides a platform for leaders to discuss global issues. BRICS began as a formal group after a meeting in 2006 and expanded to include South Africa in 2010. In 2024, it further expanded with five new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted BRICS’ significant role in the global economy, stating that its influence will continue to grow. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has traveled to Kazan for the summit, emphasizing India’s commitment to BRICS and looking forward to discussions and meetings with other leaders.
Doubts Revealed
John Kirby -: John Kirby is a spokesperson for the White House, which is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States. He talks to the public and media about important issues related to national security.
BRICS -: BRICS is a group of five countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These countries work together to discuss and solve global issues like trade and development.
BRICS Summit -: The BRICS Summit is a meeting where leaders from the BRICS countries come together to talk about important topics and make decisions that can help their countries and the world.
No Threat Perceived -: When John Kirby says ‘No Threat Perceived,’ he means that the United States does not see the BRICS group as something that could harm or challenge them.
Multilateralism -: Multilateralism is when multiple countries work together to solve problems or make decisions. It means that countries cooperate and support each other for common goals.
Vladimir Putin -: Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia, one of the countries in the BRICS group. He is an important leader in global politics.
Kazan, Russia -: Kazan is a city in Russia where the BRICS Summit is being held. It is known for its rich history and cultural diversity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi -: Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India, which means he is the head of the Indian government. He represents India at international meetings like the BRICS Summit.