... inclusion in the group of BRICS partners has exposed deep divisions within the region and intensified the rift within Latin America’s left-wing political landscape. The fact that it was the position of Brazil, the region’s only representative in BRICS, that became an obstacle for Venezuela, sparked the most backlash and bitter antagonism from Caracas. For Nicolas Maduro and his team, potential BRICS membership appears to be an important foreign policy objective. With close ties to Russia and good relations with some Asian and ...
... religion and others who are no longer followers but hold true to their cultural roots in the former Ottoman Empire and the Levant and the North African littoral (Maghreb) and Egypt. Some businessmen and government officials of Middle Eastern heritage in Venezuela started pushing for an OPEC organization to countervail the U.S. dominated “Seven Sisters” oil cartel as early as 1949, as did Iran.
By the time a “third generation” of the BRICS replaces the second one will the organization have in place a tenable menu of strategic coordination options to accommodate and mediate the interests of Islam and Islamists? Should it? Is it "politically incorrect" by Western standards ...
