Bigger BRICS in Russia
The U.S. needs to follow policies of reciprocity and significantly increase “gray zone” actions.
By Laurence F. Sanford
BRICS is a consortium of countries led by China that seeks to build alternatives to the dominance of Western institutions such as the World Bank, Group of Seven, and the UN Security Council. BRICS is the acronym of the founding countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
BRICS met in Kazan, Russia, on October 22 for a three-day conference hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thirty-six countries, including 22 heads of state, attended. Putin held 20 bilateral meetings with attendees, including Chinese President Xi, Indian Prime Minister Modi, and South African President Ramaphosa. President Lula of Brazil did not attend due to health issues.
BRICS is now BRICS+ as it expanded its membership to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Argentina was invited to join but declined because its new president, Javier Milei, proclaimed full alignment with the “free nations of the West.” Saudi Arabia has not officially acknowledged membership.
In 2023, the 10 BRICS+ members invited 13 nations to join as “partners” with no voting rights: Turkey, Indonesia, Algeria, Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Vietnam, Nigeria, and Uganda. Venezuela was absent from the new partner list because President Lula of Brazil was upset by Venezuela’s lack of supporting public data verifying President Maduro’s recent election.
The U.S. dollar’s dominance as the world’s reserve and trade currency gives America an outsized influence over the global finance system. Most of the world’s trade is conducted in the U.S. dollar. This allows the United States to impose economic sanctions against countries such as Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. BRICS+ wants to weaken the dollar to reduce U.S. influence and promote trade in local currencies. China is advocating for the use of its renminbi currency as an alternative to the dollar.
African participation in the 2024 BRICS+ demonstrated African interest in the bloc’s economic opportunities, rather than becoming embroiled in geopolitics. Some are wary of China’s influence, representing 60% of the bloc’s gross national products. Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa touted new economic cooperation with Russia and China.
The BRICS+ annual declaration focused on the threat of climate change, the economic toll on member states of economic sanctions, and controlling misinformation. Ironically, the report’s authors include the world’s worst polluters and media censors (China and India). The report failed to condemn Russia’s war against Ukraine and China’s genocide against its Muslim Uygher citizens. BRICS+ is seeking changes in the UN Security Council to include India, Japan, Brazil, and Germany as permanent members and to expand non-permanent memberships to more African countries.
Summary
The 10 BRICS countries represent more than a quarter of the global economy and almost half of the world’s population. With the addition of 10 new partners, BRICS+‘s influence in world affairs is growing. African countries are playing a more critical role, with China announcing a “no tariffs” policy for imports from Africa. Many other “Global South” countries are also vying to join BRICS+.
The United States and the West should participate in BRICS countries as they develop their economies and improve the lives of their citizens. At the same time, the U.S. needs to follow policies of reciprocity and significantly increase “gray zone” actions by promoting capitalism, democracy, and human rights. China’s predatory lending policies in the Belt and Road Initiative should be exploited.
Economic sanctions have a role in the U.S. policy mix but should be administered discreetly. Sanctions against Cuba have not worked for 60 years. They have generated anti-American feelings throughout the world with a reputation for bullying. Sanctions on Russian oil and gas have not slowed Russia’s international sales but have changed trade patterns. Sanctions/tariffs against China are in American strategic interests, as China is an existential threat.
Putin demonstrated that the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions have not isolated Russia’s role in the world. If anything, Russia’s relations with China, India, Iran, and North Korea have been strengthened.
Though not a cohesive bloc, BRICS+ have common grievances against the West:
- Western hegemony and hypocrisy
- Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine
- Weaponization of U.S. sanctions
- Dollar outsize influence on local currencies
Action
The United States should:
- Treat others as they are treating America. If a country is conducting actions that are not friendly, then reciprocate.
- Increase gray zone actions promoting American values via media outreach, covert actions, and diplomacy.
- Strengthen existing alliances by eliminating countries not sharing the alliance ethos (e.g., Turkey out of NATO).
- Promote Judeo-Christian values of an individual’s worth (human rights).
- Increase the U.S. defense budget and supporting infrastructure.
Laurence F. Sanford is a senior analyst at the American Security Council Foundation.
