After the official visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijan has officially applied for membership in BRICS. This move has caught the attention of the global public and subjected Azerbaijan to various criticisms in the Western media. Before examining Baku’s critical application, it is necessary to take a general look at BRICS. BRICS is an acronym formed from the first letters of the English names of the countries “Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.” Founded in 2006, this international organization currently includes countries like Egypt, the UAE, Iran, and Ethiopia as well.
Within BRICS, China holds a prominent and influential position due to its economic power, accounting for an estimated 70% of the group’s total GDP[i]. The international organization’s image in the global public eye is often seen as an “alternative path to the West,” frequently referred to with the term “Global South.”[ii] China’s significant influence has led some Western analysts to characterize BRICS’ expansion policy as part of China’s strategy to increase its global influence.
On August 18, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku. The visit included extensive discussions on Russia-Azerbaijan relations. It was conveyed that they aimed to continue active cooperation in the Caspian Sea under the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea. Additionally, Putin addressed the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, emphasizing Russia’s readiness to contribute more to resolving the dispute[iii].
After the meeting between Putin and Aliyev, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ayhan Hacızade announced that Azerbaijan has officially applied for BRICS membership[iv]. Previously, on July 3, 2024, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana, a “Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China” was adopted. In the scope of this, it is also mentioned that Azerbaijan applied to join BRICS.
Western media have suggested that Putin’s visit to Baku was focused on this agenda, given Russia’s presidency of BRICS in 2024. They claimed that Baku preferred Russia in the West-Russia choice. However, according to Aliyev’s statements, it appears that the fundamental aspect of Azerbaijan’s stance is focused on the country’s geopolitical and strategic interests.
Azerbaijan’s application to BRICS can be expressed in another way. A noteworthy point was made in an interview with Yuri Ushakov, Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration. According to Ushakov, BRICS surpasses the G7 in terms of purchasing power parity, accounting for 35.6% of global GDP, while the G7 remains at 30.3%. By 2028, BRICS’s share is expected to rise to approximately 36.6%, while the G7’s share is projected to drop to around 27.8%. BRICS countries collectively account for $58.9 trillion of the world economy, representing 45% of the global population, 40% of global oil production, and 25% of global merchandise exports[v].
The Western claim that “Azerbaijan has sided with Russia” can be viewed as an attempt to put pressure on Baku in the international arena. Azerbaijan’s stance can also be interpreted as an indirect political message to the West. This message serves to remind the West that Azerbaijan holds an indispensable position both commercially, politically, and economically, given its geopolitical position, especially in light of the West’s purportedly solution-oriented approach to the Karabakh conflict.
The U.S. State Department, in a statement to Voice of America’s Armenia service, mentioned that they are ready to cooperate with both Armenia and Azerbaijan in any format that could lead to progress and acceptance by the parties. They also shared their views on the future of the OSCE Minsk Group format and the American stance on this issue. However, it should be noted that the OSCE Minsk Group has, rather than resolving the Karabakh conflict, deepened it. Following the Budapest meeting on December 6, 1994, the U.S., as one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, could potentially adopt a similar approach to push Azerbaijan’s situation in the region into a deadlock while seeking to restructure Armenia. Given the influence of the Armenian diaspora in the U.S., this possibility cannot be dismissed. Additionally, the U.S. military exercise named “Eagle Partner – 2024” with Armenia suggests that the U.S. may be targeting unresolved issues in the region rather than focusing on peace.
Azerbaijan’s application for BRICS membership is another example of the country pursuing initiatives aligned with its interests, rather than simply choosing sides in the West-East axis. Recently, during the first session of the High Intergovernmental Council held in Tashkent with the participation of the presidents of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, it was reported that the strategic alliance between the two countries was welcomed. Discussions covered cooperation in areas such as energy, transportation, and tourism, as well as exchanges of views on international and regional issues. As a result of the discussions, a series of agreements were signed to expand cooperation in various fields[vi].
Western media has reported that Azerbaijan decided to join BRICS following Putin’s visit. It appears that Azerbaijan has been pressured while its geopolitical position has been overlooked. However, Azerbaijan has primarily focused on logistics, trade, and economic cooperation, prioritizing its regional position over alignment with China or Russia.
The claims that BRICS serves as an “alternative to the West” are unfounded. While the European Union (EU) is known as a political organization and NATO as a military alliance, BRICS is neither a political nor a military organization. Therefore, considering the diverse political stances of its member countries and potential military conflicts within the group, BRICS lacks political and military institutions. It is purely an economic entity, concentrating on protecting mutual investments, promoting preferential trade tariffs, and developing new transportation corridors. The total trade volume of China, India, Brazil, and South Africa with the EU and the US exceeds several trillion dollars, indicating that these four countries’ primary trade partners are the EU and the US. In other words, BRICS countries are economically interdependent with Western governments. Except for Russia and Iran, other BRICS members operate under the Western market economy model.
In conclusion, Azerbaijan’s application to join BRICS should not be seen as a break from or a reaction against the West. Azerbaijan’s interest in BRICS stems from its strategic geographical position. If managed correctly, BRICS membership could attract additional investments without harming Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan’s desire to join BRICS is primarily driven by its logistical advantages. The country is strategically located at the intersection of key corridors such as the Middle Corridor, North-South, and East-West routes, which are crucial for China and India.
As noted above, Azerbaijan has applied to BRICS to leverage its geopolitical position across a broad spectrum. Given that BRICS countries are integrated with the West, Azerbaijan’s move should be viewed not as an alternative maneuver against the West but rather as an effort to further solidify its position and become an indispensable country in the eyes of the West.
[i] Brian Hart, “The 2023 BRICS Summit: A Mixed Bag for China”, ChinaPower, https://chinapower.csis.org/analysis/the-2023-brics-summit-a-mixed-bag-for-china/, (Date of Access: 23.08.2024).
[ii] David Born, “Global South: Beyond BRICS”, Roland Berger, https://l24.im/2Uqdy, (Date of Access: 23.08.2024).
[iii] “Vladimir Putin made an official visit to Baku”, JAM News, https://jam-news.net/russian-president-vladimir-putin-visited-baku/, (Date of Access: 23.08.2024).
[iv] Zulfugar Agayev, “Azerbaijan Formally Applies to Join BRICS, Foreign Ministry Says”, Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-20/azerbaijan-formally-applies-to-join-brics-foreign-ministry-says, (Date of Access: 23.08.2024).
[v] “Yuriy Ushakov: BRIKS na Dele Vyrazhayet Interesy Mirovogo Bolshinstva”, TASS, https://tass.ru/interviews/20149675/, (Date of Access: 23.08.2024).
[vi] “Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed agreement on alliance relations”, First Channel News, https://www.1lurer.am/en/2024/08/23/Azerbaijan-and-Uzbekistan-signed-agreement-on-alliance-relations/1176008, (Date of Access: 23.08.2024).
