Axel Kassegger (FPÖ) on the rise of the BRICS group

"There are many indications that the break with US hegemony will succeed"

Axel Kassegger (FPÖ) on the rise of the BRICS group, the transition to a multipolar world order and how Austria should behave as a neutral state between power blocs

From: https://zurzeit.at/index.php/vieles-spricht-dafuer-dass-der-bruch-der-us-hegemonie-gelingen-wird/

Dr. Kassegger, while the Ukraine war dominates the foreign policy headlines in this country, the BRICS group, for example, goes almost unnoticed. Now, however, more and more countries - for example, Argentina, Saudi Arabia or Iran - have expressed interest in BRICS membership.
How do you see this development in general?

Axel Kassegger: I observe this development with great interest. It is quite remarkable that this
attention is paid to this important topic in the Western media landscape. After all, the main goal of this confederation of states is nothing less than to create a counterweight to the West and thus a multipolar world order. The fact that more and more states are striving for BRICS membership should give the Western powers food for thought. China in particular is driving these expansion efforts. Not surprisingly, if you look at the economic development of the BRICS countries. In the 2000s, they were considered emerging economies with annual growth rates of up to ten percent. In the last ten years, however, economic development has been rather disappointing. Russia, Brazil and South Africa are largely stagnating and India is also falling short of high expectations. The inclusion of resource-rich and currently emerging countries could, as Xi Jinping said at the last BRICS summit, give the group new vitality and increase its influence.

Could a second centre of power in the world emerge with the BRICS group alongside the collective West led by the USA, or a new bipolar world order?

Kassegger: At the moment, there are many indications that the BRICS countries and the BRICS group will be able to achieve the transition to a multi-polar world order and all the other powers in the world. Above all China can succeed in breaking the American hegemony. However, the actual development depends on factors that are difficult to predict.

For example, whether China's rapid economic growth will continue in the coming years and whether it will succeed in further expanding its political influence at the global level. On the other hand, the question is in which direction the Western world will move.

If the USA and its allies do not manage to overcome their enormous demographic and domestic political problems, they will find it difficult to stand in the way of a strong BRICS alliance.

Do you see the danger that tensions between the world powers will increase with a strengthening or an expansion of the BRICS? As you know, the Ukraine war was preceded by a constant NATO expansion, and now Mexico is flirting with joining the BRICS group, even though it has no military agenda.

Kassegger: The concern that the competition for global hegemony could also be conducted on a military level is quite justified. The Russians have already demonstrated that they are ready to take up arms, and the United States has also shown in the past that it is ready to take up arms.
the United States has shown in the past that it is not squeamish when it comes to securing its power. A further military escalation could arise, for example, in the context of the Taiwan conflict. It is to be hoped that the close economic ties between China and the West can prevent a new Cold War.

    The concern that the competition for global
    hegemony could also be waged on a military
    is justified.

The plans of the BRICS to introduce a common currency should also be mentioned. A BRICS currency could, as Foreign Policy magazine wrote, "shake the supremacy of the dollar". I am convinced that Washington will try everything to prevent that. How do you see that?

Kassegger: At the moment, the introduction of a common BRICS currency still seems a long way off.
But the calls for it are getting noticeably louder. Only recently, the new Brazilian President Lula drew attention to himself with a declaration of war against the US dollar. At the upcoming BRICS summit in August, this topic is to be on the agenda. Should concrete progress in this direction actually succeed, it can be assumed that the USA will use all available levers to prevent this potential competition for the dollar.

Relations between individual BRICS members are not always free of tension. I am thinking of India and China, which are involved in a border conflict. Could the fact that the BRICS are a rather inhomogeneous group perhaps prove to be a divisive factor in the end?

Kassegger: The inhomogeneity of the BRICS countries is certainly one of their greatest challenges. This group spans four continents and includes completely different cultures, political systems and economic systems. From our own experience with the European Union, we know how difficult it is to agree on certain issues even within one continent.

In addition, as you mentioned, there are existing rivalries such as those between China and India. An expansion of the BRICS alliance would further increase the number of such rivalries and the inhomogeneity in general.

China is by far the most economically potent BRICS member, and we know - keyword: new Silk Road or Belt and Road Initiative - Beijing's global ambitions. Is the BRICS group perhaps only China's extended arm?

Kassegger: Due to its economic superiority, China certainly has the greatest influence within the BRICS group and will try to assert this in terms of its own geopolitical interests. In my view, however, it is not accurate to describe this group merely as an extension of China. In the end, it consists of five sovereign countries which largely represent their own interests.

What is the significance of the BRICS group for the EU? Is it competition or does it perhaps offer a chance to loosen the firm foreign policy grip of the USA somewhat?

Kassegger: There is a danger that the EU will continue to place itself entirely at the service of the United States. If the latter starts an economic war with the BRICS group or just China, then the EU will probably go along with it again. In this case, there would be massive damage to the European economy. But if there is a rethink at the European level, then an increasingly multipolar world order would be the perfect opportunity to embark on a new European path.

And what policy should Austria as a neutral state pursue towards the BRICS group?

Kassegger: Austria should stand up for a strong Europe that does not serve as a plaything of foreign power blocs.
Our goal must be to act as a self-determined and peacemaking state on the geopolitical level and to defend the interests of Austrians. Participation in sanctions against China, as was recently discussed at EU level, must therefore be rejected in any case.

The interview was conducted by Bernhard Tomaschitz.