Alberto Fernández asked Xi Jinping for Argentina’s formal entry into the BRICS group

During the BRICS forum that took place this Wednesday in the Chinese city of Xiamen, the ambassador to Beijing, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, announced that Alberto Fernández had formally asked for Argentina to join the BRICS group.

The President, Vaca Narvaja said Wednesday, formalized the request through a letter sent to Beijing last week to the group formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This was sent to Xi Jinping’s government because his country is the pro tempore president of the bloc born in mid-2008 – there have been previous meetings – as a political and economic alternative to the more industrialized one of emerging economies, despite China today it is the second world power.

Acceptance of Argentina is by consensus and so far the country has the approval of the five, even if not all formalized. China and India have already done this.

The other candidate who has also asked to enter is Iran as the Russian government, which was an intermediary for the Persians, said in the middle of the year. At the time, Vladimir Putin made progress in adding Argentina to the BRICS with the governments of Cristina Kirchner and later with Mauricio Macri, but so far there have been no intermediate developments.

“The Argentine government has a clear position regarding the BRICS. For us, the group is an excellent alternative to cooperation in the face of a world order that has been shown to be created by and for the benefit of a few. I am convinced that we are facing a historic opportunity to consider the development of a true joint strategy between our countries that will face this complex global scenario “, said Ambassador Vaca Narvaja in Xiamen in announcing the formal request for entry into the group that happens in parallel with the trip to Washington by the Minister of Economy, Agriculture and Production, Sergio Massa.

In addition to presenting himself in his new position, the minister holds a series of key meetings with international organizations – IMF, IDB, World Bank – and businessmen to seek funding and capital to inject foreign currency into the meager treasury coffers.

In the case of the BRICS, which accounts for almost half of the world population with 3.200 million inhabitants, the Government has two intentions: one of belonging to a bloc with Russia and Chinaas an alternative to the power of the United States and in which Brazil is also present, and another as a source of income.

“The BRICS are currently the group with the greatest economic and political influence globally. For this reason, we need to coordinate policies, keep our industrial and supply chains safe and free, and work together for inclusive and sustainable development and resilient economic growth, “said Vaca Narvaja, paraphrasing Alberto Fernández at the Summit of Heads of State of the BRICS which was carried out this year virtually, and in which Argentina participated mainly for candidacy and also as president of the Community of States of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Previously, Santiago Cafiero had attended the meeting of foreign ministers. And Argentina has joined the Chinese Silk Road, a step that Beijing expected

A positive sign on the path of the Argentines towards the BRICS – which finds the opposition divided as sectors of Together for Change say that there is no need to enter and others that yes – it had its peak this year when the former minister of Economics Martín Guzmán was with his Brazilian counterpart, Paulo Guedes. This gave Argentina the green light to join the BRICS New Development Bank, another source of funding for Argentina.

“It is clear that world macroeconomic stability and economic growth pass and will pass more and more through this group of countries,” Vaca Narvaja said and said that the BRICS bank has begun the process of entering Argentina. “We need to build our own system that does not condition or apply sanctions of any kind to our countries,” she said. Even so, China is relentless with its debtors and at the same time, as seen in the pressure on Argentina to sign its program with the International Monetary Fund, is increasingly participating in the trade system and its world rules.

Although the Chinese have taken off as a power and have greatly economically unbalanced this bloc, this year, in the midst of the war that is waging in Ukraine after the invasion of Vladimir Putin’s forces on February 24, Xi Jinping has decided to revive it.