If anything proves the seismic changes that are changing the world order as we knew it until yesterday, it is the program of the Kenyan diplomats.
Until recently, the invitations they received to host delegations from the great powers were counted on the fingers of one hand, while today they do not have a single free hour in their calendar. Evidence of this is that since early summer, Nairobi has hosted officials from the US to discuss free trade, applauded Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a speech to the Kenyan parliament, and signed with the envoys the EU’s major trade agreement.
It seems that we are entering a new era where the USA as the only superpower will be challenged with the passage of time given that apart from its traditional allies, the emergence of new medium-sized powers will also determine the place where they will, if they want, to be attached.
The emerging frontal conflict between the US and China has made the G20 more divided and less effective, but it has paved the way for a more opportunistic era.
It is the middle powers, between the USA and China – the two of what seems to be the main poles of confrontation, which will determine the emerging multipolar world. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Germany, Poland, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria as well as titans of the global south such as Indonesia and India, which is a rising truly great power, are these which are considered medium strengths.
The strategy of the rise of these countries lies in the fact that both the US and China have been absorbed by the rivalry between them, giving an opportunity for all these countries to develop more effective bilateral relations with each of the great powers, but also to develop deeper strategic relationships between them. At this moment we see that Turkey, even though it is a NATO member country, has a very good relationship with Russia, a global nuclear superpower. Saudi Arabia is following the same pattern, diligently increasing its bilateral relations with China and of course taking the same decisions (regarding the increasing oil production or not) with Russia.
In such a context, the heterogeneity of the countries allied under the BRICS umbrella (Brazil, Russia, India, the People’s Republic of China and South Africa) is highlighted.
