BRICS

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.

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.

On June 8, 2025, a tanker under American and European sanctions discreetly docked in Japan, delivering Russian crude to a local refinery. This act, far from negligible, reveals a silent fracture in the Western consensus on energy. While the G7 has been trying for two years to isolate Moscow, Tokyo prioritizes its energy security. This episode, both symbolic and strategic, could subtly reshape the lines of a transforming global energy 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.

When a consumer product surpasses oil and diamonds in the exports of a country like India, it is no longer just an industrial success, but a strategic shift. The meteoric rise of smartphones as the leading export item reflects a redeployment of the country's economic priorities. This turning point marks the emergence of a manufacturing India connected to global value chains, with possible repercussions on the balance of international trade, technological flows, and ultimately, on digital uses and the dynamics of the crypto economy.

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?

The global monetary architecture is shaking on its foundations. By reducing the share of the dollar in their exchanges to 33%, the BRICS are signaling a historic break. Their trade now largely relies on their own currencies. Behind this shift lies a deliberate strategy to fragment a system dominated by the greenback. This is no longer an intention; it is a movement underway. And it is reshaping the balances of a financial order that has until now been under the influence of Washington.

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.

As international monetary tensions intensify, China is ramping up its offensive against the dominance of the dollar. Beijing is formalizing the launch of a strategic plan to impose its own international payment system. This initiative marks a major turning point in the redefinition of global financial flows, reinforcing China's ambition for a multipolar economic order. By directly targeting traditional networks dominated by the West, this maneuver is now capturing the attention of markets, governments, and major financial institutions.

Russia, an influential member of the BRICS bloc, has just crossed a historic monetary milestone: in February, more than half of its imports were settled in rubles. This strategic advancement, confirmed by the Central Bank, is part of a clear break with the dollar-dominated system. As tensions with the West escalate, Moscow is redirecting its trade towards partners deemed "friendly," thus redefining global financial balances and accelerating its trajectory towards strengthened economic autonomy.

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.

And if independence no longer came through weapons, but through blocks of code? The BRICS dream of sovereignty in cryptocurrencies, with Siluanov as a digital scout.

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.

In the shadow of the economic restrictions imposed by the West, Moscow is charting a new path for its energy trade. In the face of exclusion from the international financial system, Russia has found an alternative solution: the use of Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDt) to bypass sanctions and ensure the continuity of its oil exports.

The global economy is evolving under the pressure of increasing trade tensions. As the United States imposes new tariffs, Europe finds itself facing a strategic dilemma. Balancing its traditional alliances and diversifying its economic partnerships, the continent is now looking towards the BRICS. This organization, once seen as a counterweight to the G7, is today consolidating its position by forging closer ties with Europe. This shift could redefine the economic and political power dynamics on a global scale.

The foreign policy of the United States could undergo a major shift. As diplomatic tensions between Washington and Moscow have intensified in recent years, Donald Trump appears ready to rewrite the rules of the game. The American president, a favorite in the race for the White House, is considering an economic rapprochement with Vladimir Putin's Russia, aiming to break with the sanctions strategy imposed under Joe Biden. Is this a maneuver intended to undermine the BRICS alliance?

In an already geopolitically tense context marked by increasing economic tensions, Donald Trump has rekindled trade hostilities and is once again targeting the BRICS. The American president called the economic alliance "dead" and threatened to hit its members with a 100% tax on their exports to the United States if they continued to challenge the supremacy of the dollar. This statement immediately provoked a diplomatic reaction from China, which condemned a destructive protectionism and affirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation among emerging economies.

The BRICS continue to redefine the global geopolitical landscape. As the group expands and seeks to strengthen its influence, its relations with the West become strained. The latest episode: Iran, a new member of the bloc, has categorically rejected any negotiation with the United States. "Negotiating with America does not solve any of our problems," Tehran stated. This is a firm refusal of any diplomatic opening with Washington. This positioning, much more than a simple political statement, illustrates a growing rift between the BRICS and Western powers.

Rumors about a common BRICS currency frequently resurface, fueling speculation about a possible counterweight to the dollar. As several nations seek to reduce their dependence on the greenback, the prospect of a shared currency raises concerns in the United States. Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on countries considering an alternative. However, the Kremlin has just defused the debate: no such project is under discussion. Instead, the bloc prioritizes joint investment platforms, leaving doubt about its true monetary strategy.

Donald Trump unveils his radical strategy to counter the monetary ambitions of the BRICS. In response to their proposal for a common currency, he threatens to impose 100% tariffs against any country that adopts it. This tough approach masks secret negotiations that could reshape the global monetary order.

In a constantly changing world, where every political decision redraws the contours of power, a major phenomenon is emerging: the rise of the BRICS. This acronym, once seen as a symbolic grouping of major emerging economies, now asserts itself as a driving force of geopolitical balance. With the recent expansion of this bloc to new influential members, the global landscape is enriched with unprecedented dynamics, challenging the hegemony of Western institutions. While Donald Trump embarks on a second term in the United States, focused on a protectionist and isolationist policy, the rise of the BRICS represents a strategic challenge with profound implications.

Monetary tensions are intensifying as the BRICS accelerate their quest for independence from the US dollar. This dynamic is upending global economic strategies and prompting major powers to rethink their financial reserves. Currently, the Trump administration has announced the creation of a "strategic crypto stock," reigniting an explosive debate between bitcoin supporters and those of XRP. Some see it as an official recognition of the role of these assets in monetary policy, while others question which cryptos will actually be integrated. Beyond technological rivalry, this confrontation reveals major geopolitical stakes: the choice of the BRICS between bitcoin, XRP, or another crypto could reshape the balance of global reserves and redefine power dynamics among states.

For several decades, global economic alliances have been evolving due to geopolitical and economic transformations. The BRICS bloc embodies this dynamic through its expansion to new members in order to consolidate its influence on the international stage. In 2023, Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, received an official invitation to join this strategic alliance. However, unlike other countries such as Iran or the United Arab Emirates, which quickly accepted, Riyadh is adopting a cautious stance. Faisal Al-Ibrahim, the Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, emphasized that the kingdom continues to carefully assess the implications of membership. This strategic choice raises questions about Saudi Arabia's true intentions and its future role in this new economic balance.

Economic tensions between major powers are reaching a new level. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has issued a direct threat to the member countries of the BRICS alliance, which are seeking to reduce their dependence on the U.S. dollar. In response to these de-dollarization initiatives, he announced 100% tariffs on their exports to the United States. This stance, accompanied by the establishment of a new agency to collect these customs duties, reflects a clear intent to defend the supremacy of the dollar and to counter any challenges to American economic hegemony. As the BRICS explore alternative payment systems, this statement could redefine the power dynamics on the global geopolitical and commercial stage.