BRICS Expert Forum at SPIEF: key speakers and highlights

One of the key events on the sidelines of the SPIEF 2024 was the BRICS expert forum moderated by Director General of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik’s parent media group, Dmitry Kiselev.

Three panel sessions of the forum focused on BRICS’ goals in the multipolar world, as well as on ways to promote growth through cultural and economic partnerships.

Check out the forum’s highlights:

🔸 How does BRICS help to create a new world order?

🔸 Why does BRICS surpass G7?

🔸 Why does India need BRICS?

🔸 How could BRICS countries share news about each other more effectively?

🔸 How is BRICS different from the G7?

🔸 What is BRICS’ role in the international financial system?

👆Follow the links to learn the answers

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Why is it wrong to call SPIEF the 'Russian Davos'?

Scott Bennett, former US Army psychological warfare officer and US state department counterterrorism analyst:

“In the St. Petersburg Economic Forum I see a mix of national integrity, national pride, cultural identity, cultural pride, as well as the economic mathematics of business and industry…Davos is more like how do we change the world? How do we push the world? How do we control the world?”

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Likelihood of US deploying nukes in Asia-Pacific aimed at strategic containment of Russia, China

The potential deployment of US tactical nuclear weapons in the western Pacific Ocean, including military bases in South Korea, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and the island of Diego Garcia, "would become a direct factor of strategic containment against Russia's Far East, Northern China, and North Korea," the director of the Knowfar Institute for Strategic and Defense Studies, Li Jian warned.

Such actions could disrupt the regional strategic balance, exacerbate arms races, and impede nuclear non-proliferation efforts, he told Sputnik.

The expert pointed out that the US Air Force has already upgraded the tactical nuclear bomb B61-12, and testing has been successfully completed for aircraft such as the F-15, F-16, B-2, and F-35A. Production is expected to be completed by 2026. With the US Department of Defense set to procure 400 B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs, deployment plans are now being considered.

In general, military bases in South Korea, Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and Diego Garcia are being evaluated for the potential deployment of B61-12 tactical nuclear bombs in the western Pacific Ocean, as mentioned by Li Jian.

US Senator Roger Wicker, the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a report on May 29, suggestion to explore "new strategies, including a "nuclear sharing agreement in the Indo-Pacific and re-deployment of US tactical nuclear weapons in the Korean Peninsula," to counter nations like North Korea and China.

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🤡 Biden ‘showed respect’ to a veteran by touching his face with his fist at an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy.

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Why are the European Parliament elections so crucial, and why are they in the spotlight so much?

Elections to the European Parliament occur every five years in all member countries of the European Union, with the voting process lasting for three days. It is hailed as one of the largest "democratic" elections globally, however, many experts question and dispute its significance.

The reason is that the European Parliament does not have much of an influence on the life of Europeans because of its limited powers. This legislative body, which operates in Brussels and Strasbourg, does not have the authority to propose legislation. In the European Union, the right of legislative initiative is held by the European Commission, currently led by Ursula von der Leyen.

This time, the elections garner attention for several reason:

▪️Sympathies for the "non-systemic right" are on the rise, with Eurosceptic and occasionally Russia-friendly parties gaining momentum in Germany, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands.

▪️The two Eurosceptic parties, which have established factions within the European Parliament – Identity and Democracy, plus European Conservatives and Reformers – are projected to receive 24% of the vote. This contrasts with their 2019 performance, where they only received 18% of the vote.

▪️The possible defeat or significant weakening of the mainstream parties in the European Parliament, namely the conservatives and socialists, could potentially result in the ouster of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, since she relies on their support for votes. Many experts caution against expecting a quick change in leadership.

Even if von der Leyen were to lose majority support in the Parliament, her fate would ultimately be determined at the upcoming summit of the European Council. This is an unelected body comprised of the heads of state from EU member countries, with the summit set to take place on June 27-28. Only after this will the candidacy for a new chairman be proposed.

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The West has already heard Putin’s signal about the Russian response to the supply of weapons to Kiev, Russia's Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.

Ukraine will have to take into account the position of the Russian Federation in matters of arms supplies; Moscow will not sacrifice its interests, Peskov added.

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At the ceremony for the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, Biden either tried to sit on an invisible chair or did some squats, we're not so sure ourselves.

What do you think he was doing? 🤔

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‘Putin is exactly right’

Former US Army psychological warfare officer and US state department counterterrorism analyst Scott Bennett explained why Putin is right by saying Russia could provide weaponry to countries hostile to the US in response to the West sending long-range arms to Ukraine.

“…that's a very intelligent strategic position to have, first of all. I think Putin is exactly right. I mean no doubt they have thought about that for years, but they've been too respectful and too cautious to say it until now… So when Putin is saying this, I think he is trying to get the West to think, stop.”

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A "warm" welcome to Kamala Harris

While appearing on a talk show, US Vice President Harris' interview was interrupted by pro-Palestinian activists demanding an end to military action in Gaza and arms shipments to Israel.

"It's good to be back home," Kamala Harris said.
"You're a murderer!," Someone in the audience replied.

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