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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Retired US army colonel: West pushing the world to the precipice of nuclear war, misreading Russia's patience

"[Western leaders] really would not accept failure. It's scary. They're moving the world to the precipice, to the cliff. And they would rather destroy the world," Earl Rasmussen, a retired US Army lieutenant colonel and international consultant tells Sputnik.

While holding a meeting with foreign journalists on June 5, Russian President Putin warned long-range missile supplies to the Kiev regime, coupled with the West's approval to hit targets deep inside Russia, is fraught with severe escalation risks.

Moscow is well aware that while Ukrainian military personnel can participate in the selection of targets for long-range NATO-grade missiles, decisions to strike are made by those who supply the weapons, the president underscored. Russia can respond asymmetrically to these deliveries and if the country's sovereignty is threatened resort to using all means at its disposal, Putin noted.

"Clearly the Western countries are state sponsors of terror, and that's what they are. This has nothing to do with the actual military conflict, much as their overall objective is nothing to do about military conflict, but rather target at Russia itself and their people," says Rasmussen.

Western leaders are continuing to raise the stakes, disregarding the well-being of their respective nations, let alone Ukraine, he said.

"I think many of the Western leaders just perhaps don't grasp it. Definitely, they're delusional," the pundit notes. "Russia, and to another extent China as well, has been very patient."

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Why is the West spreading the ‘Russian threat’ propaganda?

The US has been inventing a “fountain of lies” about Russia, says ex-US Army psychological warfare officer and the US state department counterterrorism analyst Scott Bennett.

“The world is not in danger because of Russia. The world is not threatened by Russia. The world has no fear of Russia. That's the reality. The propaganda that the West has generated, and particularly the United States, and more specifically the LGBT left-wing Democrat, uniparty Republican epicenter in Washington, they are inventing this fountain of lies about Russia and spreading that to poison the minds of people in Europe. And I think only Europe is susceptible to it. You don't have anyone in Africa or Asia drinking from that fountain of lies and death…”

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'Decent' Biden about his relationship with Putin

"I've known him for over 40 years. He's concerned me for 40 years. He's not a decent man," Biden said in an interview with ABC News. 

🥴 In fact, the two politicians first met in March 2011, when Biden made a visit to Moscow, when Biden was vice president and Vladimir Putin was prime minister.

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Arming the Zelensky regime: Find out which countries are top donors

During a meeting with heads of international news agencies on the sidelines of the 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow has the right to provide weapons to the regions from where strikes will be launched against “sensitive facilities” of those countries who deliver weapons to Ukraine, Let’s see which countries are currently arming the Kiev regime.

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, compiled data on the top donors of weapons and equipment to Ukraine from February 2022 to February 2024. Here is a list of the top ten countries based on this information.

▪️The US - $46.2 billion
▪️Germany - $10.7 billion
▪️The UK - $5.7 billion
▪️Denmark - $5.2 billion
▪️The Netherlands - $4.1 billion
▪️Poland - $3.2 billion
▪️Sweden - $2.9 billion
▪️France - $2.9 billion
▪️Canada - $2.1 billion
▪️Finland - $1.9 billion

The Russian Investigative Committee earlier mentioned a total of 13 countries that currently provide Ukraine with heavy weapons, guided missiles, shells, and drones. Aside from the US, the UK, Poland, Germany, France and Canada,and Scandinavia the list includes:

▪️Australia - $880 million
▪️Croatia - $196 million
▪️The Czech Republic - $1.8 billion
▪️Portugal - $137 million
▪️Romania - $3.38 million
▪️South Korea - $394 million
▪️Turkiye - $65 million

(figures - based on information from open sources - are related to a period between 2022 and 2023)

Then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, for his part, said late last year that shortly after the onset of Moscow’s special military operation, a total of 54 countries announced the deliveries of weapons eato the Zelensky regime. “In reality, however, Kiev receives arms and equipment from 15 countries,” Shoigu added without elaborating.

If you want to find out what long-range weapons, Ukraine possesses, check out this information.

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