BRICS, this magical five-letter word contains the new codes of the world since this magical word has a power that unites continents, unites nations in a common goal and contains ancient civilizations. In its short history, the BRICS organization has accomplished important things. This special community, which has gained great respect and attention, especially in the non-western world, has made its footprints everywhere on the global stage. Thus, the capacity and capability of BRICS to shape global politics on the world stage has increased day by day. Because it was the BRICS countries that laid the foundations of a non-Western development bank, took the lead in de-dollarization, brought enemies to the peace table, built alternative weapons and organizations to the West, and pioneered new technologies.
The BRICS countries account for 42% of the global population and 26% of global GDP. They account for 18% of global trade. They hold nearly 50% of the world’s foreign exchange reserves and 60% of the world’s mineral reserves. These countries cover 30% of our planet. The BRICS countries, which account for one third of the world’s industrial production and half of the world’s agricultural production, are a global storehouse of production and supplies. One third of the firms in the Fortune Global 500 companies list belong to the BRICS countries. In addition, the BRICS countries have already surpassed the G7 countries according to purchasing parity. G7 countries, on the other hand, are the most indebted countries in the world and have turned into a consumer society. Today, BRICS’ contribution to the world’s growth has exceeded 50%. In this process, the BRICS countries, also called emerging economies, started to emerge as the main power centers in the global power struggle.
Brazil, under the leadership of Lula, announced to the world a proposal that would shake the global economic system to its foundations in a short period of time. This was the desire to build a new regional and global common monetary system with national currencies other than the dollar. He even proposed the creation of a Bank of the South for the Latin American continent. Brazil first started trading with China in local currencies. Then it pioneered the transition to a common currency in South America. Lula also announced that Brazil would contribute to peace talks to promote diplomacy in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. But he also declared that Brazil would not send arms to Ukraine and would not participate in sanctions against Russia. Moreover, Lula opened Brazilian ports to Iranian navy ships under US sanctions. The same Brazil that opened its ports to the Iranian navy was the actor that laid the foundations for Saudi Arabia’s first military explosives factory. Lula, who made waves with his statements, even said that Julian Assenge, being hunted by the US, should receive a Nobel Prize.
Russia, on the other hand, under Putin’s leadership, continues to fight the US-EU-NATO in Ukraine while exerting its influence all over the world. Russian foreign affairs, Russian finance and the Russian army have not stopped despite Western sanctions. The Russian ruble has become a currency used for trade in the non-Western world, while Russia has become the world’s food store. Despite Western sanctions, Russia is building the first nuclear power plants in several countries on several continents. Russian military power has also expanded its partnerships in various ways in Asia, Latin America and Africa. In many countries in Africa, it has even managed to oust Western countries like Germany and France. As the dominant power in Syria, it helped Assad to be recognized again in the Arab League. It has been a negotiation-setter in Turkey-Syria and Azerbaijan-Armenia relations. As a result of Russia’s effective diplomacy, no country other than Western countries joined the sanctions against Russia.
With Modi, India has assumed the role of an indispensable partner or savior country of the West. India re-emerged as the voice of the Global South in this process. The Indian currency, the rupee, was introduced globally. Today, more than 20 countries have signed agreements with India to trade in rupees. Modi met with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine and did not side with the West. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic and war, India overtook the UK to become the 5th largest economy in the world. Indian leadership forged deep economic and military partnerships with Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The Indian software industry has become a world authority. The Indian defense industry has also achieved record exports. More strikingly, thanks to the strength of the Indian diaspora, Indian-origin rulers are now running states in many countries.
China, on the other hand, brought Iran and Saudi Arabia, long enemies, to the peace table and normalized relations. With a treaty in Mandarin, Farsi and Arabic without the use of English, Xi Jinping’s China achieved a diplomatic success that surprised the world. China has become the largest trading partner of the United States, the European Union, Africa and Latin America. The Chinese currency, the yuan, has become an increasingly demanded and used international currency. Many countries, notably Russia, have started to trade in yuan. Even Israel, an indispensable ally of the US, for the first time included the Chinese yuan in its foreign exchange reserves. China was now a world leader in 5G and a pioneer in 6G. In the Russia-Ukraine struggle, China has engaged in diplomacy and started peace efforts. More than 160 countries are now involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, which started with 50 countries. Finally, diplomatic relations between Honduras and China have begun, while diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Honduras have ended. There are only thirteen countries left in the world that recognize Taiwan.
South Africa, as the leading power in finding solutions to the problems of many countries in Africa, also took the initiative in the Russia-Ukraine struggle and became the leading country in the African Mission. In this process, South Africa organized joint military exercises with Russia and China despite the reaction of Western countries. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa attended the inauguration ceremony of President Erdoğan, which was not attended by Western leaders. During this period, trade between Turkey and South Africa reached a record high. South Africa, the second largest military power on the African continent, prioritized cooperation with Turkey in the defense industry. South Africa, the rising actor of Africa, became a country with increased visibility on the global stage for the first time. Thus, South Africa, which took an active role in the African Union, became one of the leading powers of the continent. As one of the three largest economies in Africa, South Africa is now among the influential and respected countries of the Global South.
Unlike the US and EU countries in the past, the BRICS power has taken its place on the global stage without colonizing, exploiting, enslaving and slaughtering the world. On the global stage, BRICS and the countries that make up this structure are seen as a reliable partner or partner. The US and the EU have largely lost their credibility. The BRICS experience – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – has become a model country. As a result of the growing interest in the BRICS formation and the fact that it includes the main forces of geopolitics and geoeconomics, BRICS Plus (+) has come to the fore. Twenty countries are waiting in line for membership to the BRICS bloc. More than 30 countries have applied for membership to the BRICS New Development Bank. This shows us that in the 21st century, all roads do not lead only to Washington, Brussels, London and Paris. Brasilia, Moscow, New Delhi, Beijing and Cape Town are now the new quarterback capitals at the end of the road. The military, economic, technological, cultural, cultural and diplomatic visibility and influence of the BRICS countries is increasing day by day. This is why BRICS is seen as the most important actor in the non-Western world ahead of the BRICS Summit. Even French leader Macron has expressed his willingness to attend the BRICS Summit in South Africa. This shows that BRICS influence and interest in regional and international politics is growing. After all, the BRICS countries were regional leaders and sovereign actors capable of building a global balance of influence.
The aggressive behavior of the United States and Europe in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has pushed non-Western actors to seek new alternatives and opportunities. Indeed, to fail to see the powerful impact and potential of the economic, ideological, technological, cultural, social and political alternatives that BRICS offers to nations and states is to fail to read the future. In the 21st century, BRICS represents the most comprehensive and transparent non-hegemonic non-Western organization based on equal representation in global governance. BRICS is not only the most democratic non-Western institutional organization but also a global organization. BRICS is the pioneer of a multi-centered-multi-civilizational democratic system with a specific weight alternative to the US-centered Western civilization-based system. It is indisputable that BRICS is the single greatest force in the transition to a democratic global system among equals. This is the biggest reason for the interest and interest in it. With its opportunities and vision, BRICS is an attractive structure that the family of nations is knocking on the door. One of the most admirable aspects of BRICS is that it does not stand by the US and the EU, especially in the Russia-Ukraine struggle. Since the BRICS structure is multicultural, multi-centered and multi-voiced, it is opposed to monistic and hegemonic structures with one voice and one color. Because BRICS is a human-centered, democratically based, multicultural, multicultural, multi-voiced, multi-colored and multi-opinionated civilizational power. Today, the BRICS format is a power that is taken into account, respected, followed and sets the global agenda. Instead of the 100-year old single-centered, single-civilization, single-culture, single-culture, uniformist structure, a multi-centered, multi-civilization, multi-cultural, multi-voiced structure is being built.
