Editorial: El Mundo

• The Russian president has used the BRICS summit to show that the war in Ukraine has not isolated him internationally.
• Russia seeks to strengthen the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, as a counterweight to the West.
• Within the BRICS, there are discrepancies that prevent a unified front from being formed, with Brazil and India maintaining some equidistance with the US and Egypt aligned with Washington.
• The summit concluded with a communique calling for a reform of the UN and greater role for the Global South.
• Russia is looking to reduce reliance on the US dollar to dodge international sanctions.
• A showdown with the West is being staged which is increasingly dangerous with the addition of North Korean military support for Russia in Ukraine.

Conclusion: The BRICS summit exemplifies Russia's attempt to play a counterweight role to the West, however, the BRICS bloc is far from unified. Additionally, the escalating face-off with the West raises serious global security concerns.

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