Стр. 18 - V

Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Author : B. Martynov
Deputy Director, Institute for Latin American Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor, Doctor
of Science (Political Science)
WITH THE DEADLINE of the BRICS Summit in
Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia, drawing near, it is logical
to expect heightened interest in Brazil, Russia's
strategic partner and its partner in BRICS and the
Group of Twenty (G20). Brazil is far away at the
other end of the world, yet it shares this country's
approaches to major global problems, has nearly
equal GDP and several other economic figures, and,
no less important, possesses similar national emo-
tional and psychological mindsets.
Economics, economists admit, is a very volatile practice. As a general rule, attempts to predict
the coming of a next crisis or make guesses about when it ends once it has come bring no re-
wards. Complaints heard about the "bleak prospects" confronting Brazil are either a burst of in-
flamed emotions or conspiracy against all BRICS countries, including Russia. The slowdown in
BRICS' headway over the last two years is a kickback of fickle economy, and no reason at all to
deny the arrival of new influence-wielding players on the world scene. Still, attempts to deny the
accomplished fact are in great abundance.
Acting on its understanding of BRICS, West keeps on ignoring it and perceives skeptically the
association's ability to put its imprint on the world economy and politics. It also wants to prejudice
the world's public opinion against BRICS and the possibility of the association's member coun-
tries expanding cooperation among themselves in many areas. The barely predictable and "tran-
sitory" status of international relations today is actually a stand-off between the old and the new
where the old does not want to back off without giving a fight first.
Cooperation between Brazil and Russia in maintaining their military and information security is
insistently imperative in the context of intensifying rivalry for the planet's natural resources.
These two countries are unique, even in comparison to all other mega-countries, because of the
abundance of natural resources and minerals that no other country on Earth has.
ADMITTING THE SIGNIFICANCE of Brazil as Russia's strategic partner is no guarantee
that the two countries' relations will show rapid improvements in both quantity and quality.
The ongoing crisis in Brazil, we believe, is a brief, if self-evident, stopover on its way up to the
top of the world in economics and politics.
Brazil: Our Strategic Partner