Iran and Argentina Apply to Join Anti-Western Alliance
Creating a Multipolar World
It was reported today that Iran and Argentina applied to join the anti Western alliance, BRICS. That Iran, a long time pariah, would join the alliance is not surprising. That Argentina is applying is a bit more interesting.
Here is my recent article on BRICS.
Argentina and Brazil have been regional rivals for over a century. Argentina was much more advanced economically in the 19th and first half of the 20th century. During the 1930s Germany was competing with the United Kingdom to be Brazil's top trading partner, but the US came in and gave huge concessions to Brazil to limit German influence.
The US built a giant steel mill, airports and highways throughout the country, giving Brazil a leg up. Brazil became a solid partners of the Allies, even sending an army division to fight in Italy. Argentina stayed a pro-NAZI neutral until near the end of WW2.
Brazilians often resented Argentina and its much more sophisticated culture and better economy. By the end of 20th century, Brazil had clearly become the most powerful Latin American country.
In 1991 Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay created Mercosur as a regional free trade zone. It has since expanded with most of South America as associated members, with some nuance.
Rivalry between Argentina and Brazil often manifests itself in soccer, but after 30 years of working together, they are much closer.
Latin America is drifting away from the Western orbit. With Argentina joining the BRICS, it is a vote of confidence in moving away from the West.
BRICS are creating a competing currency system to SWIFT. With Russia in direct opposition to the EU and China backing Russia, the Rules Based International Order aka the American empire is being challenged and countries are taking sides.
The BRICS alliance is an alliance of countries in opposition to the unipolar world. These countries may not be long-term allies, but they are likely going to stand together in opposition to being controlled by America. They may mostly only have economic connections, but these connections are outside of American domination. They are explicitly trying to move to a multipolar world.