BRICS Expansion: The New Power Shift in Global Politics
On January 1, 2025, the BRICS alliance welcomed nine new partner countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, and Indonesia, marking a significant shift in the global economic landscape. With this expansion, BRICS now represents nearly half of the world's population and accounts for over 41% of global GDP (PPP). This move is seen as a direct challenge to Western dominance and signals a growing desire among developing nations to reshape international financial systems and reduce reliance on the US dollar. The implications of this expansion could lead to increased tensions among member states, especially between geopolitical rivals like Saudi Arabia and Iran, raising questions about the future cohesion of the bloc.
Key Points for Streaming and Downloading Our Latest News:
- BRICS now includes nine new members as of January 1, 2025.
- The group represents nearly half of the global population.
- Over 41% of world GDP (PPP) is now accounted for by BRICS.
- This expansion challenges Western economic hegemony.
- Potential internal conflicts may arise due to rivalries among new and existing members.
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Citations:
[1] https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-brics-group-and-why-it-expanding
[2] https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/china-and-india-are-at-odds-over-brics-expansion/
[3] https://asiatimes.com/2019/08/brics-was-created-as-a-tool-of-attack-lula/
[4] https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2024/12/25/brics-expands-9-partner-countries-population-economy/
[5] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2024)760368
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyZUQ1_mqlE
[7] https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2024/10/brics-summit-emerging-middle-powers-g7-g20
[8] https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2024/07/17/brics-suspends-its-strategic-expansion-implications-and-challenges/
[9] https://www.kas.de/en/brics-plus