More Than Just Opposition
The theme of the 2023 summit was “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism”. The focus was less on confronting the G7 and more on building an alternative, parallel system for the Global
South. Leaders spoke of reforming global institutions like the UN Security Council and multilateral financial bodies to better represent developing countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for instance, urged the group to send a message of unity, not polarisation. This framing suggested a move toward an “alter-West” rather than a purely “anti-West” position, focusing on creating new platforms for cooperation without necessarily seeking direct conflict. The goal, as articulated by many, was to build a multipolar world, not a bipolar one split between pro- and anti-Western camps.
The Complications of Expansion
The summit's biggest headline was the decision to invite six new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. This move was championed by China and Russia, who saw expansion as a way to build a stronger counterweight to US influence. However, the choice of new members tells a more complicated story. The inclusion of major US partners like the UAE and Saudi Arabia alongside a staunch US adversary like Iran makes a unified anti-Western foreign policy nearly impossible. These new members bring economic heft and geographic diversity but also their own complex foreign policies and regional rivalries, potentially making the bloc more fractious and harder to coordinate. This diversity dilutes the idea of BRICS as a monolithic anti-American alliance.
India’s Strategic Balancing Act
India played a crucial, moderating role throughout the summit. Wary of the perception that BRICS was becoming a tool for Beijing's geopolitical ambitions, New Delhi pushed for a consensus-based approach to expansion with clear criteria. India, along with Brazil and South Africa, is more interested in a modern version of non-alignment than in taking sides in a new Cold War. For India, BRICS is a platform to advance its own strategic autonomy and champion the interests of the Global South, not to become a junior partner in a China-led bloc. Prime Minister Modi’s interventions focused on constructive proposals like creating a BRICS Space Exploration Consortium and sharing India's digital public infrastructure, steering the conversation toward cooperation rather than confrontation.
The De-Dollarisation Debate
Another key topic was the push to increase the use of local currencies in trade among member nations. This was often portrayed as a direct assault on the US dollar's dominance. The reality discussed at the summit was more pragmatic. The leaders' declaration focused on encouraging their finance ministers and central bank governors to consider the issue of local currencies, payment instruments, and platforms. The New Development Bank (NDB), or BRICS Bank, has already begun issuing loans in local currencies. This push is less about immediately replacing the dollar and more about reducing dependency, mitigating the risk of Western sanctions, and building a more resilient, multipolar financial system. It’s a move towards financial autonomy that appeals to many developing nations, regardless of their stance towards the West.
A Coalition, Not an Alliance
Ultimately, the Johannesburg summit highlighted the internal divisions within BRICS that prevent it from being a cohesive anti-Western alliance. China and Russia may harbour more explicitly confrontational goals, but the interests of India, Brazil, and South Africa are far more aligned with strategic autonomy and maintaining positive relationships with all major powers. The expansion further cemented this diversity. The inclusion of countries with strong ties to the United States means the group is unlikely to agree on any radical anti-Western agenda. Analysts noted that members like Brazil and India would have a difficult time ensuring the expanded group does not simply become a platform for Russian or Chinese geopolitical interests.
