BRICS and Security Challenges in Eurasian Region
来源：capsindia.org;发表于:2024-02-14;人气指数:272
Wednesday,
February 14, 2024
BRICS and Security Challenges in
Eurasian Region
By Dr Rajneesh Kumar
Background
BRICS was formed in 2001 as an emerging
investment market and global power bloc. It brings together five of the largest
developing countries of the world, i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China &
South Africa, representing nearly 41 per cent of the world’s populace, 24 per
cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the world trade. BRICS comprises of
the fastest developing nations with their respective global ambitions, a fact
mainly concerning China. This peculiar character of BRICS has the possibility
of creating certain security challenges among the member countries, amidst
varying regional aspirations.
Major Security Challenges in Eurasian
Region
In brief, the major Security challenges
in Eurasian region include:
(a) Internal Conflicts: The conflicts,
such as those in the Caucasus and Central Asia, have created refugee problems
and may eventually threaten the security of other European states located
around and outside the immediate geographic region.
(b) Corruption and Organised Crime:
These issues are peculiar to the developing nations and have been major
obstacles to economic development in post-Soviet Eurasia. The Eurasian states
after disintegrating from the erstwhile USSR had been grappling with economic
problems post glasnost and despite perestroika or the restructuring brought in
by Gorbachev.
(c) Protracted and Armed Conflicts: The
major conflicts in Eurasia included strifes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in
2020, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in April 2021 with the latest being between
Russia and Ukraine since February 2022. These conflicts continue to harm peace
and security in the region, while new armed conflicts have appeared,
undermining regional stability.
(d) Militarisation and Defence Spending:
The rise in militarisation and defence spending in the region has contributed
to the security challenges. China has been the major spender on militarisation
amongst the BRICS members. As per the estimates of the U.S. government, during
2023, the Chinese annual defence budget was around $700 billion almost at par
with the United States’ 2023 defence budget of just over $800 billion. India
was also found to be allocating defence budget to the tune of Rs 5,93,537.64
crore, which is 13.18 per cent of the total budget of Rs 45,03,097 crore during
2023-24 for the modernisation of its armed forces. This speaks about the focus
that these two major powers in the BRICS are directing towards their armed
forces.
(e) Regional and International Security
Organisations: The effectiveness of these organisations in addressing security
challenges in Eurasia has been questioned, as they have struggled to adapt to
the new security landscape. Regional security groupings especially the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Collective Security Treaty Organisation
(CSTO) have been doing well in promoting coordination among the Eurasian
nations despite rising Chinese sway therein.
(f) Russia’s Influence: The Eurasian
states trace their origins to the erstwhile USSR, and as such, Russia has had
an influence on these states. However, with Eurasian states gaining prominence,
mainly as reservoirs of precious minerals, energy resources and defence
hardware in the global affairs, the Russian influence appeared to be gradually
diminishing. However, Russia has re-emerged as a central actor in Eurasia, with
an agenda of amalgamation and an idea of establishing Eurasia as a distinctive
politico-economic entity.
How can BRICS address the security
challenges in the Eurasian Nations?
The vast and geopolitically complex
region of Eurasia faces innumerable security issues ranging from regional
conflicts to terrorism and economic instability. BRICS nations especially India
and Russia, collectively possess the potential to play a pivotal role in
addressing security challenges in Eurasia:
(a) BRICS can enhance cooperation
through diplomatic channels to facilitate conflict resolution in Eurasia. It is
felt that by utilising their collective diplomatic influence, the BRICS member
countries can encourage dialogue and negotiations between conflicting parties,
promoting peaceful solutions to the ongoing disputes. Diplomatic efforts can
focus upon nurturing mutual understanding, building trust and establishing
frameworks for conflict resolution amongst the nations within Eurasia.
(b) BRICS can play a significant role in
promoting economic stability as a foundation for regional security in Eurasia.
By strengthening economic ties and trade relations among member nations, BRICS
can contribute to the development of the Eurasian region. This economic
integration can create a more interconnected and interdependent network,
reducing the likelihood of conflicts due resource competition and economic
disparities.
(c) BRICS can provide financial support
for infrastructure development, promoting economic growth and stability in
Eurasia. A crucial aspect of security challenges in Eurasia involves addressing
the threat of terrorism. Towards this, BRICS nations may collaborate on
intelligence sharing, joint counter-terrorism training and operations and the
development of comprehensive strategies to combat radicalisation and extremism.
By pooling their resources and expertise, these countries can effectively
tackle transnational threats and prevent the spread of terrorism within the
region.
(d) BRICS may also attempt to address
these challenges through soft power drivers like promoting education and social
programs that counter extremist ideologies and foster long-term stability.
(e) BRICS can contribute to addressing
the security challenges in Eurasia through multilateral military cooperation
while respecting the sovereignty of the individual nations. Towards this,
collaborative military exercises and joint peacekeeping missions can be
organised to respond to crises and maintain stability in the region. This
military cooperation should be conducted within the framework of international
law and with a focus on promoting regional security rather than advancing the
individual aspirations of the nations concerned.
(f) BRICS can also engage in promoting a
culture of good governance and the rule of law in Eurasian nations. By
supporting the efforts of the concerned Eurasian nations to strengthen
institutions, fight corruption and uphold democratic values, BRICS can facilitate
the establishment of stable and accountable governance structures through
mutual consultations. This, in turn, is expected to help in mitigating internal
conflicts and fostering an environment conducive to regional security.
(g) Energy security is a critical aspect
of stability in Eurasia, and BRICS can play a vital role in ensuring an
unhindered and sustainable diversified energy supply for the region.
Collaborative initiatives in the development of renewable energy sources,
infrastructure for energy transportation, and joint investment in the energy
sector can contribute to reducing dependency on a single energy source, thereby
enhancing the resilience of Eurasian nations to external pressures and
conflicts related to energy resources.
(h) BRICS can also work towards
enhancing cultural and people-to-people exchanges in Eurasia. By promoting a
better understanding of diverse cultures and fostering people-to-people
connections, BRICS can contribute to building bridges of trust and cooperation
among Eurasian societies. Cultural diplomacy can play a crucial role in
softening geopolitical tensions and creating an atmosphere conducive to
resolving conflicts peacefully.
To conclude, we can state that BRICS has
the potential to be a significant force in addressing the security challenges
in Eurasia. BRICS nations can collectively contribute to fostering stability in
the Eurasian region through diplomatic efforts, economic cooperation,
counter-terrorism initiatives, military collaboration, governance support,
energy security management and cultural exchanges, to say the least. However,
it is essential for these efforts to be made in a cooperative and all-inclusive
manner, duly respecting the sovereignty of individual nations and considering
the diverse interests within the Eurasian region.
Dr Rajneesh Kumar - Senior Fellow,
Centre for Air Power Studies.
The views in the article are the
author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of InfoBRICS.
CAPS India
Source: capsindia.org