According to recent developments, Palestine may soon join the BRICS club. The group recently expanded to include four more countries and is now preparing for a summit in Kazan, Russia, scheduled for October 22-24, 2024.
For the first time, Palestine could be at the negotiating table discussing the global economy, trade and currencies with these heavyweights. This is a big deal, especially given the geopolitical weight of the BRICS.
The official invitation is expected to land in Palestine any day now. President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed that the talks with Russia were positive. And Russia is at the forefront of BRICS expansion. Abbas said:
“We also discussed BRICS. We reached a verbal agreement that Palestine would be invited [to attend this forum] in the outreach format.
The leader made it clear that the BRICS countries are on good terms with Palestine and the 2024 summit could be a promising one for him.
What Palestine Needs to Join BRICS
Now, getting a seat at the BRICS table will require more than just being friends with Russia. Palestine will have to overcome several hurdles before it can do so.
First, BRICS has generally supported the country’s aspirations for statehood, especially during recent summits. But let’s not forget that Israel has strong ties with some BRICS members, particularly China and India.
Bringing Palestine into the group would require an insane amount of subtle diplomatic maneuvering.
To achieve this, the country needs to step up diplomatic engagement with all BRICS countries without damaging relations with Israel.
This means that the BRICS countries must take a stand for Palestinian rights on the world stage, which is easier said than done. As Abbas puts it:
“All this will be extremely relevant, given the fact that all BRICS member countries are friendly towards us.”
Domestic Politics: The Palestinian Authority’s Dilemma
Internal Palestinian politics may also be a serious problem here. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is facing serious problems. We are talking about a divided leadership and a crisis of legitimacy.
If a country wants to join BRICS, it needs to form a united front that can effectively represent the entire country.
A unified leadership could do wonders for the country’s credibility and international bargaining power. But the ongoing rift between the PA and Hamas makes the issue difficult.
On top of that, Palestine needs to show that it has a stable governance structure capable of managing international relations and economic partnerships. The BRICS guys won’t support a country that can’t keep its own house in order.
And then there is the economic side of the issue. Palestine needs to demonstrate that it has what it takes to contribute to the group’s economic goals.
The support of major players like China and Russia could be crucial. These countries could provide the economic and political support needed for Palestine to stay in BRICS. But again, this is easier said than done.
So, while there are still many challenges ahead, things are starting to look up for Palestine. An invitation to the 2024 BRICS summit would be a huge step forward, but it is only the beginning.
