Explore BRICS+ concepts and trends:

 

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – Global Chinese initiative financing infrastructure, trade, and connectivity in over 150 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America through land and maritime networks.

Blockchain – A technology that records transactions in a secure digital ledger where no data can be deleted. It functions as a chain of blocks that stores all records transparently and securely.

BRICS – Group of five major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — formed in 2009 with the goal of enhancing economic cooperation, political coordination, and mutual development among its members to increase their influence on the global stage.

BRICS+ – The expanded version of BRICS as of 2025, which includes new members – Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates -, forming a more representative bloc of the Global South.

BRICS Bridge – Platform to integrate BRICS financial systems for fast, low-cost, and secure international payments. Still under development, it aims to operate like a global app for instant banking transfers.

BRICS+ candidate countries – Nations that have expressed interest in joining BRICS+.

BRICS+ member countries – Group of 11 countries that make up the bloc. It includes the BRICS founders from 2009—Brazil, Russia, India, and China—South Africa, which joined in 2011, and new members admitted since 2024: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.

BRICS+ partner countries:  Nations that cooperate with the bloc without formal membership.

BRICS Pay – Initiative under development by BRICS nations to create a payment system using local currencies. It aims to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar for intra-BRICS trade and to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.

BRICS Summit – Annual meetings where member countries and partners discuss strategic initiatives. 

CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) – Initiative under development by BRICS nations to create a payment system using local currencies. It aims to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar for intra-BRICS trade and to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.

Circumvented sanctions – Strategy by BRICS to avoid financial restrictions.

Critical minerals – Natural resources essential for modern technologies such as batteries, defense industry, and the green economy. Includes niobium, lithium, palladium, and rare earth elements, which are the focus of global disputes due to the energy transition.

Dedollarization – Strategy aimed at reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar in international transactions, reserves, and contracts. This process has been accelerated by the BRICS through trade agreements in local currencies and increased gold reserves.

Digital Dirham – Digital currency issued by the Central Bank of the UAE (United Arab Emirates) for financial transactions, particularly in the energy sector. In its pilot phase since 2024, it is currently operational for selected banks and financial institutions.

Digital Rand – South Africa’s digital currency under study, with a projected launch by 2027.

Digital Real / DREX – Brazil’s digital currency issued by the Central Bank for international payments. Currently in pilot phase, with an expected launch in 2025.

Digital Rial / IRR – Iran’s digital currency in development, potentially focused on international transactions to circumvent sanctions. Currently in early stages, with ongoing technical discussions and partnerships with Russia.

Digital Riyal / SAR – Digital currency under study by the Saudi Central Bank, with planned tests for interoperability with China’s Digital Yuan. At an early stage with no official timeline.

Digital Ruble / RUB – Russia’s digital currency issued by its Central Bank to promote economic sovereignty and circumvent sanctions. Already operational.

Digital Rupee / e-Rupee – Digital version of the Indian rupee aimed at modernizing the financial system. In pilot phase since 2022.

Digital Yuan / e-CNY – China’s digital currency already in operation, widely used for international trade.

Diplomacy – The art of negotiating and managing relations between countries, resolving conflicts through dialogue and agreements rather than force. It involves strategies such as treaties, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange to advance national interests and promote international peace.

Economic sanctions – Financial or trade penalties imposed by countries or blocs.

Egyptian Digital Pound  / E-Pound – Digital currency under study by the Central Bank of Egypt, with potential Chinese technical cooperation for its development.

Emerging Economies – Countries that demonstrate rapid economic growth and strong potential for global influence, while still facing structural challenges.

Energy Transition – The structural shift from fossil fuels (oil and coal) to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydrogen, and biofuels), driven by climate goals and strategic security.

Exchange Rate Stability – Policy goal for BRICS currencies in global transactions.

Financial Integration – Alignment and consolidation of payment systems among member countries to enable more seamless and efficient cross-border transactions.

Food and energy security – Country’s ability to ensure a stable and affordable supply of food and energy sources, minimizing external vulnerabilities.

Geoeconomics – Study of interactions between economics and geopolitics, analyzing how countries use economic tools — such as investments, access to strategic resources, and sanctions — to pursue geopolitical goals.

Geopolitics – Study of power relations between nations, analyzing how geographic factors (such as location, territory, and natural resources), military and economic capacities, and political interests shape international relations, ranging from cooperation to conflict.

Geopolitical neutrality – The stance of a country that does not align with power blocs, maintaining good relations with all. It acts autonomously and conducts business with different nations but faces pressure to choose sides.

Global North – A geopolitical concept designating the group of countries historically positioned at the center of global economic, political, scientific, and military power. It mainly includes developed nations in Western Europe, North America, and parts of Asia (such as Japan and South Korea), which exert broad influence over international institutions and helped shape the rules of the global order established after World War II.

Global South – Geopolitical concept referring to a group of emerging and developing countries, mainly from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, that have been gaining increasing prominence in the economy, politics, and international governance. United in blocs such as BRICS+ and the G77, they coordinate efforts to amplify their voice in global decisions and promote a fairer, multipolar international order.

Gold – Tangible asset used as backing in BRICS digital currency proposals.

Hegemony – Dominance of a country or bloc over others, exerted not only through military force but also through economic influence (e.g., control of the US dollar), cultural power (e.g., Hollywood), and political leadership (e.g., leading international organizations). This dominance decisively shapes the rules, institutions, and direction of the international system.

Hybrid Warfare – Modern form of conflict that combines conventional military action (such as armed combat) with cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns (fake news), trade warfare, psychological operations, public opinion manipulation, and financial support to insurgent groups.

Liquidity – Ability to convert BRICS currencies in global transactions.

Local currencies – Use of national currencies (real, ruble, rupee, yuan, rand) in trade among BRICS countries.

mBridge – A cross-border payment platform based on CBDCs.

Multilateralism – International cooperation system in which three or more countries work together through organizations to address global challenges, establish common rules, and promote peace and development.

Multipolar World – International order characterized by multiple centers of power, in contrast to the unipolarity following the Cold War.

NDB (New Development Bank) – Financial institution established in 2015 by the BRICS to finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging countries, headquartered in Shanghai. It serves as an alternative to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the World Bank.

Protectionism – Policy restricting imports through tariffs or non-tariff barriers to protect domestic industries.

Proxy War – Conflict in which countries or groups do not fight directly, but support opposing sides by providing weapons, funding, and/or training. For example, a country may assist rebels abroad to weaken a rival from a distance without directly engaging in the war — essentially fighting through others.

Rare Earth Elements – 17 chemical elements from the periodic table essential for manufacturing innovative, high-tech products such as smartphones, electric vehicles, and military equipment. While not geologically scarce, they are difficult to extract and refine. China dominates this sector.

South–South Trade – Commercial exchange between developing countries.

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) – Global system connecting banks for secure international transfers, dominated by the US dollar and used by over 11,000 institutions. Controlled by Western countries, it enables sanctions and exclusion of banks from sanctioned nations (such as Russia and Iran). Alternatives like BRICS Pay seek to mitigate SWIFT’s influence.

Technological Sovereignty – Autonomy in producing critical technologies (such as semiconductors), a BRICS goal to reduce dependence on the West.

Trade War – Economic conflict between countries marked by rising tariffs and reciprocal sanctions.

Unit – Common currency proposed by BRICS, backed by gold and BRICS currencies.

West – Bloc of developed countries with liberal economies, led by the United States and the European Union, holding dominant cultural and institutional influence in the post–Cold War era (important: the geopolitical concept of “West” differs from its purely geographic meaning).

Western sanctions – Measures that motivate alternative systems like BRICS Pay.

Win–Win Cooperation (共赢合作 – Gòngyíng Hézuò) – The official slogan of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), promoting mutual benefits through infrastructure and trade projects involving over 150 countries. Widely used to strengthen ties among BRICS nations and the Global South, it reflects an effort to reduce dependence on Western systems.