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A cooperation to increase each members’ political and economical significance

Originally BRIC: Brazil, Russia, India, China, first meeting 2009

Then South Africa joined in 2011  -> BRICS

Now in 2024 BRICS+: Ethiopia, Egypt, Saudi-Arabia, UAE, Iran

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Political and Security

“enhance cooperation and dialogue on issues of global and regional security”

“the reform of the multilateral system to make it relevant for the 21st century”

“Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and its financing”

Economic and Financial

“promote economic growth and development for mutual prosperity”

“expansion of intra-BRICS cooperation in sectors such as trade, agriculture, infrastructure, small and medium enterprises, energy, finance & banking etc.”

Cultural and People-to-people exchanges

“people to people contacts in cultural , academic, youth, sports, business, through regular exchanges”

“Exchanges among Parliamentarians, young scientists etc.”

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Alternative to the G7

Facts about the BRICS countries:

41% of the world population

29.3% of the total land surface of the world

24% of the global GDP

16% of world trade

Facts about BRICS+:

20% more GDP than G7

½ of the world population

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With their rise in power, BRICS is challenging the G7’s dominance in some sectors and regions

Promoting different world views and prioritising different issues

-> Competition, especially in terms of technological advancements, international policies and energy resources

-> Challenging the status quo, shaping the global narrative on international issues

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Unipolarity: One state is by far and away the most powerful

Bipolarity: Two states are equally powerful

Multipolarity: Power is diffused among several states

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Bipolarity during the Cold War between the US and the USSR

Ever since unipolar -> US is the most powerful

Shifting to multipolarity and away from the US at the moment

-> The Western world is losing its sovereignty of interpretation

Especially important when it comes to global politics -> Who should be supported? Who should be sanctioned?

Russia vs Ukraine

Israel vs Hamas

Potentially China vs Taiwan

-> Global opinion on international conflicts is likely to grow more diverse and potentially shift

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Not everything is perfect

Lacking similarities in terms of geography and culture

Tensions between some of the members

E.g., China and India

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Already very important economically, yet still continuously growing more relevant -> Will possibly overpass G7 even further

-> Likely to have an even greater influence on the global world in the upcoming years

This will be a struggle for the challenged Western world -> will have to adapt and defend their power

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However, to these countries, it is only fair that they receive a say in international affairs as well -> they deserve to not be passed over by stronger countries

-> International politics grow more diverse, which generally speaking is a good thing

Still, as this is very much democracy vs autocracy or even dictatorships, the democratic countries will have to defend their influence