BRICS

As economic tensions intensify between major powers, a dissenting voice challenges the dominant narrative in Washington. According to Boris Kopeikin, chief economist at the Stolypin Institute, the US trade deficit with China is not the result of a BRICS strategy, but rather a structural weakening of the American economy. This interpretation reignites the debate on the root causes of American imbalances in a world undergoing major reconfiguration.

American crude is losing ground. This week, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s leading public refiner, turned its back on shipments from the United States to refocus on the Middle East and West Africa. This logistical rebalancing, seemingly technical, reflects a strategic shift: the rise of energy alliances within the BRICS, the decline of the dollar in oil trade, and the assertion of a new economic order.

While the West defends the supremacy of the dollar and the euro, Moscow and Beijing accelerate their divorce from these currencies. Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russo-Chinese trade is now conducted almost exclusively in rubles and yuan. This shift, supported by a spectacular rise in bilateral trade and a deliberate strategy, could mark a decisive step towards a multipolar financial order.

While the trade war intensifies, Beijing and Moscow show their determination. In July, their exchanges jumped to $19.14 billion, an annual record that contrasts with the gloom of the first half of the year. This rebound occurs as Donald Trump threatens China with new tariffs, after sanctioning India for its Russian oil purchases.

As global balances are being redrawn, the BRICS summit in Rio outlined the contours of a more pronounced multipolar influence. Behind the notable absence of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, discussions led to concrete proposals: reform of international institutions, enhanced climate cooperation, and regulation of artificial intelligence. Less spectacular, but more strategic, this edition sheds light on the ambitions of the global South, while revealing the latent tensions that weaken the coherence of a bloc in search of credibility.

At the opening of the BRICS summit in Rio, Donald Trump reignited trade tensions, threatening to impose surtaxes on any country aligned with this emerging bloc. Facing a coalition that challenges American hegemony, the confrontation goes beyond tariffs to affect global power dynamics. The BRICS are intensifying their break from…

As the global geopolitical balance weakens, Rio will host a tense BRICS summit on July 6 and 7, 2025. Designed as a counterweight to the G7, the bloc struggles to embody the unity of the global South. Internal disagreements, Xi Jinping's absence, and Donald Trump's offensive comeback: the 17th edition illustrates less of a rise in power than a questioning of the strategic coherence among its members. In an era of multipolar ambitions, the BRICS are facing a crisis of legitimacy as much as a test of international credibility.

Rio is set to host a high-stakes BRICS summit, marked by two historic absences: Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. The Chinese president is withdrawing for the first time since 2013, while his Russian counterpart remains in the Kremlin, targeted by an arrest warrant from the ICC. At a time when the bloc wants to assert itself against the dollar and strengthen its influence, these withdrawals weaken the group's unity and raise doubts about its geopolitical trajectory.

Can the dollar lose its global supremacy? What was once speculation is now taking a concrete diplomatic turn. As the BRICS summit approaches in Rio, major emerging economies are placing local currency transactions at the heart of their strategy. This shift occurs within a context of growing geopolitical tensions and demands from the Global South for a more balanced financial system. Behind this dynamic lies a possible redefinition of the rules of global trade.

The economic center of gravity is shifting towards the South, and both Beijing and Moscow want to dictate the pace. Ahead of the BRICS summit in Rio, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are unveiling an unprecedented initiative: a joint investment platform dedicated to global South countries. Designed as a lever of influence and emancipation from circuits dominated by the West, this announcement marks a key step in the construction of an alternative financial order led by emerging powers.

While Trump buries the digital dollar, Beijing is setting up its own on all continents. One click, one yuan, and finance trembles. The United States watches... gritting its teeth.

While Israeli strikes target sensitive Iranian sites and Tehran responds with missiles on Tel Aviv, the military escalation is redefining balances in the Middle East. However, a strategic absence intrigues: that of the BRICS. A newcomer to the bloc, Iran was counting on solid support against its sworn enemy. Yet neither Moscow, nor Beijing, nor New Delhi are committing. This silence exposes the limits of an alliance that Tehran saw as a counterweight to Western hegemony.

In the turmoil of global commercial reconfigurations, Beijing is advancing its pawns. China announces the complete removal of tariffs on exports from 53 African countries, expanding preferential access to its market. Behind this gesture lies a targeted diplomatic offensive as Washington, under the leadership of Donald Trump, reactivates protectionist levers against the continent. Africa, long peripheral in geo-economic arbitration, is becoming the epicenter of a clash of influences where industrial ambitions, strategic alliances, and narratives of sovereignty intersect.

A discreet yet massive shift is redefining the global monetary balances. Indeed, over 90 countries, led by the BRICS, are abandoning the dollar in their international exchanges. In its place, the yuan, the ruble, or the rupee are gradually taking over. This strategic realignment, far from being a mere technical adjustment, challenges the financial order built around the United States since the post-war period. A stated desire for economic sovereignty and a direct challenge to American hegemony over global flows are at the root of this movement.

As the BRICS summit in Rio approaches, Ron Paul sounds the alarm: a monetary shift is underway. The parliamentarian mentions a "Rio Reset," a coordinated offensive by emerging economies to marginalize the dollar in global trade. Behind this statement lies a broader dynamic: the emergence of a multipolar financial order. As monetary tensions intensify, the initiative backed by the BRICS could accelerate a paradigm shift with global consequences.

And what if one of the largest capital transfers in modern history was already underway, away from the spotlight? In the face of rising geopolitical tensions and the fatigue of the dollar-dependent model, Asian nations, led by the BRICS, are initiating a withdrawal of about 7.5 trillion dollars in American assets. This reorientation, based on strategic choices and concrete data, challenges the foundations of Western finance and signals a silent yet decisive restructuring of the global monetary order.

The BRICS Trade Ministers approved this week the "Declaration on WTO Reform and Strengthening the Multilateral Trading System." This is a document in which the group reinforces its commitment to strengthening the multilateral trading system. Additionally, the proposal includes reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This declaration also addresses issues such as data governance, sustainability, and strategies through 2030. Meanwhile, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, has once again threatened the European Union (EU) with a 50% tariff starting June 1.

While the major emerging powers are making calls to reduce their dependence on the US dollar, a key player has just slammed the door on any desire for a break: India. In a tense international context, where Western sanctions are pushing some countries to explore alternatives to the dollar-dominated monetary system, New Delhi chooses to play the stability card. By stating that it has "absolutely no interest" in engaging in a de-dollarization dynamic, India sends a strong signal to its partners within the BRICS and the Global South.

For a long time perceived as followers, the BRICS are now at the forefront of global growth. According to the latest forecasts from the IMF, these emerging powers will show an economic momentum in 2025 that is significantly higher than that of the United States. This quantitative shift is becoming strategic: the rise of the BRICS is no longer a trend; it is a fact. Their collective performance is redefining the balance of power and necessitating a re-examination of geo-economic equilibria.

In a world where geopolitical fault lines are shifting rapidly, Saudi Arabia plays a delicate tune between two rival blocs. Solicited by the BRICS but still closely tied to the United States, Riyadh is biding its time, suspending its official membership despite signals of openness. While Beijing lures with its economic promises and Washington threatens with tariffs, the kingdom is preserving its options. Does this tactical ambiguity mask a pre-established strategic direction or is it preparing for a major rebalancing on the global chessboard?

While economic sanctions aimed to suffocate Moscow, Russia recorded a growth of 4.1% in 2023. This figure, confirmed by Russian authorities, shakes the certainties of Washington and its allies. In a climate of war in Ukraine and a reshaping of monetary alliances, the resurgence of the Russian economy reveals an effective circumvention strategy, supported by the BRICS. This data raises questions about the effectiveness of Western sanctions and reshuffles the cards in the geoeconomic game.

Between Washington and the BRICS, India is performing a balancing act. Officially tethered to the dollar, it nonetheless allows favorable signals towards monetary alternatives to leak through. In a context of geopolitical reconfiguration where the American currency crystallizes tensions, New Delhi's ambivalent stance intrigues as much as it worries. Between overt loyalty and discreet strategies, India asserts itself as a key player in the global monetary showdown.

As geopolitical tensions reshape global balances, the BRICS are accelerating the establishment of their own payment network. Led by Russia, this infrastructure aims to free itself from SWIFT and open a financial pathway outside of Western control. The announcement of its accessibility to non-member countries marks a strategic rupture. Beyond being a regional tool, BRICS Pay becomes a lever of global influence and a strong signal in favor of a multipolar monetary order.

In a geopolitical context undergoing a major reshuffle, two significant initiatives are shaking the hegemony of the dollar. Brazil and China are making a strategic shift by favoring their national currencies for bilateral exchanges. For their part, Russia and Iran are announcing the launch of a new common currency to circumvent Western sanctions. These distinct yet converging movements illustrate a shared desire among influential BRICS members: to build a financial system that is less dependent on the greenback and to assert monetary sovereignty in the face of external pressures.

The dominance of the US dollar in international trade and global reserves has never been so challenged. Indeed, Deutsche Bank is sounding the alarm on a growing phenomenon: dedollarization among the allies of the United States. In the face of geopolitical tensions and financial sanctions, several nations are seeking to reduce their dependence on the greenback. If this trend accelerates, the impact could be considerable, drastically altering the global monetary balance and redefining the power dynamics within the international financial system.

The United Arab Emirates, now members of the BRICS, will invest 1.4 trillion dollars in the United States over ten years. Announced after a meeting with Donald Trump, this maneuver reshapes global balances. Between technological ambition, diplomatic calculation, and projection of influence, Abu Dhabi is shaking up the lines of a world now structured by variable geometry economic alliances.

In his recent intervention, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar sought to dispel any ambiguity about India's position regarding the dollar: "there is no policy on our part aimed at replacing the dollar. At the end of the day, the dollar as a reserve currency is a source of international economic stability."

The USA-Ukraine summit was recently held in Riyadh and resulted in more ambitious ceasefire proposals than expected. "The ball is now in Russia's court" has become the American talking point on this issue. Meanwhile, Europe appears to be accelerating its military reassertion in an increasingly tense geopolitical context.