All posts tagged: BRICS

Has BRICS given up on challenging Western economic dominance? | Politics

Has BRICS given up on challenging Western economic dominance? | Politics

Jim O’Neill, the economist who coined the term ‘BRIC’ 25 years ago, argues that the group is losing its relevance. At its peak, the BRICS coalition of economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – was seen as a serious attempt to move away from the United States dollar and the domination of Western economic institutions like the World Bank, Group of Seven (G7), and International Monetary Fund (IMF). But BRICS members have different political agendas, and new forces are at play, argues economist Jim O’Neill, a member of Britain’s House of Lords. O’Neill, who coined the term “BRIC” 25 years ago, tells host Steve Clemons that the US’s economic policies may be the driver of its own decline, coupled with the economic rise of China and India. Published On 22 Feb 202622 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Source link

Iran’s participation in BRICS+ naval drills against South Africa’s wishes causes confusion

Iran’s participation in BRICS+ naval drills against South Africa’s wishes causes confusion

The Iranian corvette Naghdi in Simon’s Town port, Western Cape province, South Africa, January 9, 2026. NARDUS ENGELBRECHT / AP The arrival of Chinese and Russian warships in January in False Bay port just south of Cape Town would have already been enough to unsettle some of South Africa’s partners. But it is the arrival of Iranian vessels, such as the corvette Naghdi, that has fueled anger abroad – and sparked confusion at the highest levels of the South African government. Originally, the maneuvers were presented as a joint exercise by BRICS+ – the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, which expanded in 2024 and 2025 to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Ethiopia and, notably, Iran. Held from January 9 to 16, at the height of a crackdown on protesters in Iranian cities, the drills ultimately brought together only a handful of BRICS+ members: China led the operation, South Africa was the host nation and Iran, Russia and the UAE also participated. “It was not a regular or institutionalized BRICS …

China, Russia conclude BRICS+ naval drills in South Africa amid controversy

China, Russia conclude BRICS+ naval drills in South Africa amid controversy

China and Russia concluded a week of joint naval exercises in South African waters on Friday, described by the host country as a BRICS Plus operation aimed at “ensuring the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities.” The drills stirred controversy as they coincided with deadly protests in Iran, which had originally planned to participate but withdrew following diplomatic discussions. FRANCE 24’s Eunice Masson noted that the exercises also sparked debate over the absence of key BRICS nations such as India and Brazil. Keywords for this article Source link