Global summits are about performing diplomacy and politics for domestic and international audiences

The recent Brics summit in the Russian city of Kazan was less notable for what happened at the meeting than for what happened before, on the margins, or not at all. Among the notable things that did not happen was another expansion of the organisation

The expansion of BRICS into countries that are close to the West shows how many states are hedging their bets on this non-western group of powerful economies

Controversy aside, Brazil has shown that it is possible to force BigTech into compliance. Moreover, the topic has prompted a larger national conversation on having a national social media platform - or, for that matter, a national engine search. Ultimately it is about digital sovereignty - and BRICS needs a #BricsStack too.

The current political division in European societies has created forces on the right and left. There is a lot that separates these parties, but they also have a lot in common. This situation opens up new perspectives for cooperation.

Both Turner and Kirby suggested that "if they deploy to fight against Ukraine, they’re fair game". Neither specified what exactly the Pentagon would do (much less how), but if they were indeed suggesting direct military action, the only logical conclusion is that the warmongering oligarchy in Washington DC is more out of touch than previously thought.