Entry Submitted by Restive Sage at 6:13 PM ET on March 19, 2023
The 5 BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, S. Africa) reflect influence on three continents. Because India and China are the 2 most populous nations in the world, the alliance involves 38% of the world’s population.
Russia and China have formidable military power, though not as evolved or as powerful as the U.S. and its major allies. India is also a known nuclear power and has over the past decade made great strides in developing its naval fleet.
Russia, S. Africa, and Brazil have large gold, silver and platinum deposits.
China has the 2nd largest economy in the world in terms of GDP. Its mineral and metal reserves are not fully known; however, they do not appear to have (like India) much in the way of oil reserves that would satisfy their needs.
Brazil has the largest economy in S. America. The second largest is Argentina (a candidate for BRICS?).
India has been a traditional ally of the U.S. and yet has wisely straddled the fence in terms of world politics. As a former British colony of over 300 years, it is very sympathetic to the needs of emerging nations.
The antipathy felt by some of the African nations, most of which are former colonies, toward the Western powers has caused them to lean more in the direction of the BRICS nations. New avenues of trade, investments, and finance have emerged.
Advertisement
______________________________________________________
For Central Asia, the mega-scheme known as the New Silk Road proposes to link both China and India in trade with the Black Sea nations including Turkey (a strategic NATO member). This would revive the North overland caravan trading route (through Samarkand, Odessa, and Constantinople).
Recent revelations by a Russian leader that were broadcast on most mass media platforms suggested that other nations have expressed interest in joining the alliance. Several candidate-lists have been publicized, though this appears to reflect much journalistic speculation. Or leaks. Several candidates with geographical ties to the BRICS’ Asian powers include Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, U-----e, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Romania, Lebanon, and Syria.
Further inclusion into this nation list surmises a forking South Silk Road route (just as in ancient times). Circumventing the Suez Canal for a substantial part of Asia’s European and N. African trade has merit. Improving the new trade/delivery costs (relative to expensive sea routes) invokes the feasibility of high-speed train routes as well.
China has even suggested to Italy (a NATO member) that it could be considered the western terminus of the “New Silk Road” initiative. It is doubtful to occur; but, over time, possibly could be seen as lucrative enough to cause a break in current ranks.
This all has generated MUCH speculation by economists and military strategists. The economic benefits of a land connection to Europe and N Africa for the three largest BRICS nations are rather obvious. And strategic. So strategic in fact, that it would guarantee eventual economic hegemony in Asia for the BRICS nations located there. A full on shift in the global power structure.
The South “Silk Road” fork would move through Iran and on into Iraq, then connect to the seaports of the Levant. Conceivably it could also serve Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In fact, since there is a contiguous land bridge to all of Northern Africa (understanding that are already bridges over the Nile) it can also connect to Libya, Tunisia and Morocco and take advantage of their already well-functioning seaports.
The Silk Road initiation, sweeping and bold in concept, doubtless would have a major positive economic impact on the Eastern Mediterranean and N. African nations. Possibly Italy and Greece as well. The South overland route revives a trade route that made Lebanon and Syria one of the wealthiest areas of the ancient world (and eventually the Ottoman Empire). As 20th century colonies of France (following WWI), they continued to fare well economically in the years before WWII. After gaining their independence, the second half of the 20th century saw the two nations sadly devolve into chaos and conflict. Beirut was once referred to as the “The Paris of the Levant” and was a successful banking center of the region. It is one the more extreme examples of the tragic ends that befell many ex-colonies of the Western powers in modern times.
Advertisement
______________________________________________________
The more obvious beneficiaries of these dual routes would include Europe itself, assuming there was no staunch political resistance to the Asia/Europe connection required. Unfortunately, the Silk Road must see multiple wounds healed and extremely unlikely treaties signed. Thus, it is unlikely to come about any time soon.
Most do not fully understand that the U-----e conflict is related to current Western opposition to the New Silk Road. The old European theories about “balance of power” and “strategic alliances”, while archaic and mostly ineffectual, are still at play. It is truly 5D chess. Oddly enough, the one single thing that would have LIFTED U-----e out of its historically endemic poverty would be the same Silk Road project (unopposed by NATO).
Unfortunately, that all has been deferred to some long date ahead when provocation to war as a tool of political expediency becomes obsolete; as well as shooting wars of course. Because the NATO alliance still struggles with a very real fear factor generated during WII as to Russian power, the fear impedes modern progress. Is the fear warranted? The same fear extended into the Cold War era which threatened to eliminate every capital city in Europe. Naturally, they needed the nuclear might of the U.S. to feel safe; hence NATO.
The MAD concept worked, and it is still working. However, a nerve-racking shakiness has come to pass. The U.S. has signaled a reluctance to fund NATO at past levels, and new fears have emerged. New points of conflict have obviously erupted. Peace among nations implies a type of trust that requires new leadership and new international goals. Humanity wants that and it needs that. The existential nature of decisions being made today requires that our very BEST people become the leaders that move us forward.
Part of the recent speculation has been that Saudi Arabia is willing now to break ranks and consider membership in the BRICS alliance. This appears to be media hyperbole and perhaps naive. However, the U.S. is nearly oil independent now, and can easily buy more if needed from neighboring Mexico, Canada, and, theoretically, Venezuela. Saudi Arabia’s largest customers are China and India (both key founding BRICS countries). Is this the economic tie that can produce a truly eye-opening shift? Is this why, yesterday, historically adversarial Iran and Saudi Arabia have started an historic movement toward a rapprochement. Such a shift is portentous and dangerous at several levels, including key economic and “reserve currency” aspects of the globe, moving forward. It would certainly signal a lessening of the strictures of the Petro-Dollar agreements negotiated in the 1970s.
If Iran and Saudi Arabia both join the BRICS alliance, it paves the way for a lessening of tensions in the Middle East among Arab states. And, it paves the way for a new Middle-Eastern currency similar to the Euro (i.e the Golden Dinar). Iraq recently announced it was open for trade and is seeking new trade and infrastructure partners.
This important region has generated immense levels of wealth over the past 60-70 years. Collectively, it has vast and valuable petroleum reserves still. The only thing it really needs is a true movement into peace co-existence and a reduction of antiquated and self-limiting animosities. Perhaps this will be the actual first step that eventually leads to the New Silk Road, an economic boon to 3 billion people. Perhaps their bid for a newfound peace with neighboring states, could be the political portal that precedes an inevitable tsunami of prosperity that will encourage Europe and Asia to eventually commit to forging a better way for planet Gaia.
Restive Sage
______________________________________________________
If you wish to contact the author of a post, you can send us an email at voyagesoflight@gmail.com and we’ll forward your request to the author (if available). If you have any questions about a post or the website, you may also forward your questions and concerns to the same email address.
______________________________________________________
All articles, videos, and images posted on Dinar Chronicles were submitted by readers and/or handpicked by the site itself for informational and/or entertainment purposes.
Dinar Chronicles is not a registered investment adviser, broker dealer, banker or currency dealer and as such, no information on the website should be construed as investment advice. We do not support, represent or guarantee the completeness, truthfulness, accuracy, or reliability of any content or communications posted on this site. Information posted on this site may or may not be fictitious. We do not intend to and are not providing financial, legal, tax, political or any other advice to readers of this website.
Copyright © Dinar Chronicles
