🇷🇺 MAIN FOREIGN POLICY RESULTS IN 2024

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In the outgoing year, Russian diplomacy made energetic efforts to implement the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation approved by President Vladimir Putin in March 2023.

While the collective West made attempts to preserve the rudiments of its global dominance and impose a “rules-based international order,” Russia proposed a constructive alternative by advocating for the unconditional adherence to the principles of the UN Charter in all their completeness and interconnectedness, including in relation to settling the crisis in Ukraine and other conflicts <...>.

By putting forth new initiatives for Eurasian security and against neocolonialism, Russia provided a new ideological framework for its policy course to enhance its standing on the international arena as one of the leading centres in a multipolar world.

✅ The implementation of the strategic initiative for creating an architecture of indivisible security in Eurasia, presented by the President of Russia in June, has begun. <...>

✅ Bilateral agreements on security guarantees were signed with Belarus and the DPRK, regulating the response in the event of armed aggression against either party. Moscow and Minsk also took practical steps in the field of nuclear weapons as a measure to deter a potential aggressor. <...>

✅ The economic potential of Greater Eurasia was strengthened this year through the promotion of the project to develop the North-South International Transport Corridor. <...>

✅ Russia launched the implementation of the foreign policy initiative on international cooperation in countering neocolonialism.

🤝 President Vladimir Putin’s state visits to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan confirmed the proximity of our foreign policy approaches, and consolidated promising areas of cooperation, including joint production and logistics projects, in the bilateral agenda.

🤝 President Vladimir Putin’s first-ever state visit to Azerbaijan in August served as evidence of the intensive development of Russia-Azerbaijan bilateral relations.

🤝 The overarching partnership and strategic interaction with China reached a new level following the state visit by President Vladimir Putin to China in May. The People’s Republic of China consolidated its role as Russia’s largest foreign trade partner, as mutual trade reached the equivalent of $240 billion, with 95 percent of payments made in national currencies.

🤝 The special privileged strategic partnership with India received a serious boost thanks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Russia in July, which paved the way for expanding cooperation in finance, investment, transport, energy, science and technology.

🤝 President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Pyongyang in June opened a new chapter in the cooperation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, during which the parties signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that set guidelines for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries on a broad range of issues.

🤝 President Vladimir Putin’s official visits to Vietnam and Mongolia improved the dynamics of the relations with these countries, mainly in energy, transport and industrial production, as well as in large investment projects.

🤩🤩🤩 The Kazan Summit of BRICS became the flagship international event, which, under Russia’s chairmanship, convened for the first time in an expanded format and definitively dispelled the myth of Russia’s international isolation.

Under Russia’s Chairship in the CIS, the development of cooperation in energy, chemical industry, and several other sectors was given a serious boost. The Agreement on Free Trade in Services, Establishment, Operation, and Investment in the CIS entered into effect.

🌍 The First Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was held in November, where the participating countries detailed plans for the implementation of agreements on advancing Russia’s cooperation with African states across the board

#Outcomes2024

The BRICS Expert Council–Russia team wishes you a Happy New Year!

The past year presented us with many challenges and, at the same time, showed that dialogue, mutual support, and productive cooperation can overcome any difficulties.

May the new year bring success, inspiration, warmth and even more joyful moments! We believe that 2025 will be a time of new achievements and strengthening partnership for the common good!

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🎞New video: exclusive interview from the 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊 International School

We're thrilled to share our brand-new video which has been uploaded to the YouTube channel❕

Nishu Verma from India shared her experience of participating in the BRICS International School held in Moscow. In her interview, she noted that public diplomacy is of great interest to her, and the BRICS School serves as an excellent platform for networking and exchange of experience. Nishu also expressed her admiration for the atmosphere and weather conditions in Moscow.

She also mentioned her professional experience in the field of artificial intelligence and expressed her hope that this knowledge could be useful for the #BRICS countries and future BRICSologists

Watch the video 🎞

On 🕊➖🕊 October, the BRICS International School opened its doors to young leaders and researchers. The School is a unique event that aims to strengthen cooperation, and it became an influential platform for young BRICSologists to exchange bright & innovative ideas and their experiences.

#BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilVIDEO #BRICSschool #InterSchool

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The global influence of BRICS: A growing power bloc

The nine countries formally part of BRICS, along with Saudi Arabia, account for over 40% of the global population, with a growth trajectory exceeding the global average over the next decade. Additionally, these countries represent 37% of the global economy, according to GDP by purchasing power parity, as reported by the World Economic Forum.

BRICS was established in 2009, initially comprising Brazil, China, India, and Russia. South Africa joined in 2011, and last year, Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Saudi Arabia were added. Saudi Arabia is still in the confirmation process but has been actively participating in the group's meetings, based on information from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

These nations are responsible for 26% of global trade, according to the WTO. Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy notes that the group controls 44% of the world's oil reserves and 53% of its natural gas reserves. They currently produce 43% of global oil and 35% of its gas. A striking 72% of the world's rare earth reserves are located within these ten countries, along with 70% of global coal production. Russia and Brazil possess the most extensive freshwater reserves.

In military terms, the group includes three nuclear powers: Russia, China, and India.

"BRICS indeed has significant economic and military weight, which increasingly demands a political influence that matches the resources they hold," asserts Marta Fernández, director of the BRICS Policy Center and professor at PUC-Rio's Institute of International Relations.

Against the backdrop of a crisis spurred by an economic and political model dominated by Western countries, #BRICS began seeking greater influence over the global future.

In response to the criticisms levelled at the management of major international banks, BRICS established its own financial institution in 2014—the New Development Bank (NDB), intended to support infrastructure and sustainable development projects in developing nations.

Aside from the global governance reform discussions, there is little convergence among the group members, given their diverse commercial interests and ideological values.

"BRICS has become almost like a spokesperson or the largest voice for the Global South, within this role of reorganising the global order," explains Professor Evandro Carvalho from the BRICS Studies Center at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF).

#OPINION #economics

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Brazil takes over BRICS chairship

In 2025, Brazil took over the rotating chairship of the BRICS on Wednesday and will hold the post until the end of this year. The country is now preparing to host the bloc’s summit, scheduled for July in Rio de Janeiro.

Originally made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the group is expanding and has been welcoming new members and partners since last year. In 2025, at least nine countries, including Cuba, Bolivia, Indonesia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Thailand, are to join the BRICS.

The inclusion of new members was defined in October 2024, at the 16th BRICS summit i? n Kazan, Russia, when the bloc's new category of partners was created. With the motto “Strengthening cooperation in the Global South for more inclusive and sustainable governance,” the Brazilian government's challenges for the next summit include articulating the participation of the new members and continuing to build the payment system with local currencies in trade between countries, replacing the US dollar.

In addition, Brazil also hopes to raise awareness of the environmental agenda and the fight against climate change at COP30 (United Nations Climate Change Conference), which will also take place in the country, in the capital of Pará state, in the Amazon, in November.

BRICS is starting the year dealing with threats from US President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised to sanction countries that stop using the US dollar in trade transactions. Replacing the US currency in bilateral negotiations is one of the main issues being discussed by the #BRICS countries. Some of them – such as Russia, China, Iran, and Brazil – have already experimented with trade models using their own currencies.

The debate is now about building international mechanisms to make these negotiations easier, which, according to analysts, would assure more autonomy and freedom to countries that don't issue the dollar to negotiate with each other.

Indian historian and Marxist intellectual Vijay Prashad commented on Trump's threats in case de-dollarization advances and said that “the world should take the billionaire's statements less seriously.”

“By now, 70% of developing countries around the world have US sanctions. What are they going to do? Sanction 100% of them? That would isolate the United States. I think we have to take some of Trump's threats with a little less seriousness,” said Prashad.

#OPINION #politics #finance

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BRICS expansion: Nine new partners join the bloc

On the first day of 2025, nine countries—Belarus, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan—officially became BRICS partners. This marks another milestone in the development of BRICS, following the historic expansion of the bloc.

With the growing influence, the bloc not only gains a stronger presence in economics but also plays an increasingly pivotal role in advancing the creation of a multipolar world. Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, said that the inclusion of these nine countries as BRICS partners highlights the growing momentum of the global movement to reshape an unjust and inequitable international order, particularly in the wake of the collective rise of the Global South.

In response to the expanding BRICS family, some Western media outlets have grown increasingly anxious, particularly after the BRICS Summit in Kazan. For instance, Voice of America claimed that "The BRICS meeting highlights geopolitical aspirations and rivalries with the West." For some time, certain Western media and politicians have assumed that the BRICS mechanism is aimed at confronting the West. In reality, this is not the case.

BRICS is a non-Western bloc, but it is not an anti-Western one. From its inception, BRICS has clearly articulated its role and mission: not starting anew, not engaging in camp confrontation, and not seeking to replace anyone. Its model of multilateral cooperation avoids zero-sum games between major powers and offers a more inclusive paradigm for international relations. It is this inclusivity that has prompted many countries from the Global South to rush to apply for membership in the BRICS family.

The driving force behind BRICS' development is the escalating demand from developing countries for a fairer, more just international order. In recent decades, the world has increasingly borne the weight of the hegemonic actions of Western powers. In sharp contrast, BRICS nations have not only achieved remarkable progress in their own development but also thrived through collaboration, all while championing the shift toward a multipolar global system. Currently, with geopolitical risks continuing to rise, BRICS partners provide Global South countries with a more inclusive, flexible, and resilient alternative.

#BRICS not only offers economic cooperation opportunities but also creates a platform for developing countries to have a voice and engage in global governance reform. Through the BRICS platform, the Global South can free itself from the traditional geopolitical pressure of "taking sides" and pursue greater autonomy in a multipolar world.

Some Western media outlets blame the risk of global division on the expansion of BRICS, suggesting that countries have to choose between joining BRICS and cooperating with the West. They attempt to stigmatise BRICS as an anti-Western weapon. However, an increasing number of countries are recognising that the BRICS mechanism isn't what Western media have portrayed it to be.
BRICS has not followed the Western path of forming exclusive blocs; instead, it has carved out a new path of dialogue, not confrontation; partnership, not alignment. Amid challenges within the current international system, the BRICS mechanism provides a promising platform for cooperation. By promoting inclusive development, advocating multilateralism, and reforming the global governance system, BRICS countries and their partners have made significant contributions to shaping a fairer international order.

While this process faces numerous complex constraints, its prospects undoubtedly bring hope for the creation of a multipolar world.

#OPINION #NEWS

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How the US dollar could be dethroned by BRICS national currencies

Critics of de-dollarization argue that no viable alternative to the greenback has emerged as a major reserve currency. They insist that the dominance of the US dollar will persist for the foreseeable future. But are they right?

Former Ronald Reagan official and renowned US economist Dr Paul Craig Roberts believes that ending dollar hegemony does not require a single competing currency but rather several national ones.

"The dollar as a reserve currency is the main basis of US power," Roberts wrote. "It means the US can always finance its debt."

Other countries strive to export goods to the US to obtain dollars for their central bank reserves, he noted. The foreign exchange earned from exports is then invested into US treasury bonds, which pay interest while also serving as reserves for central banks.

"Today, there is no need for a reserve currency," argues Roberts. "Countries should trade in their own currencies. This gives every country an incentive to maintain a strong currency."

The economist explained that the US dollar became the global reserve currency after the Second World War not because it was inherently indispensable, but because all other industrialized nations had been devastated by the war.

Roberts suggests it is time to move on and explore new alternatives, especially given that the dollar has been weaponized by the US.
The BRICS+ bloc is increasingly using national currencies for trade and investments within its framework.

The group "should develop trade relations among BRICS members, which have the potential to expand into Asia, Africa and South America. The world is ready for a non-weaponized system," Roberts advised.

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📖 Word of the week: Motto

Each year, moving from one country to another, the mottos of the BRICS chairship reflect the changing priorities and challenges facing the global community. These mottos serve not only as a guideline for working together but also express the aspiration for a just, multipolar and sustainable world through the collective efforts of the BRICS member countries.

➖ Origin of the word

The word motto comes from Latin: it is derived from the word divisa, which can be translated as "divided" or "defined". In Medieval Europe, mottos were used as part of coats of arms: they were short and succinct phrases reflecting the outlook or ideals of the knights. Later the word entered the French language in the form devise, where it came to mean an utterance conveying the essence of the aspirations or philosophy of a person, organisation or community.

➖ Russia's motto in BRICS

Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined the priorities of Russia's BRICS chairship in early 2024. He stated that the chairship will act under the motto: "Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security".

This motto epitomises the BRICS objectives: to protect the interests of developing countries and to offer the world alternative approaches to global challenges.

➖ Brazil's chairship

From 2025, the chairship of #BRICS has passed to Brazil, which opens up new perspectives. As a representative of Latin America, Brazil can be expected to emphasise strengthening regional influence. Moreover, Brazil may propose its own unique motto that will complement the already existing multilateral agenda: there will probably be emphases on sustainability, environmental security and regional integration.

Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council—Russia, in a BRICS Talk interview also noted:

"I assume it will be important for Brazil to reaffirm and deepen the initiatives that have been prioritised for the country during this year. These include the fight against hunger and climate change issues. I hope that #Brazil and the government of Lula da Silva, who attaches great importance to engagement with civil society, will support the BRICS Civil Council created this year. And the initiatives and activities that we will carry out under the auspices of the Civil Council will be supported by the chairship, not only in the BRICS countries, but also in the partner countries".

➖ Conclusion

The word motto is not just a set of words, but a quintessence of ideas and goals. In 2024, it has become a symbol of the spirit of unification, outlining the main priorities: co-operation, justice and security.

#BRICSExpertCouncil #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #wordoftheweek

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🔍De-dollarization: over half of countries worldwide embark on boycott of greenback

More than half of the countries across the world have declared a boycott of the US dollar, an analysis conducted by Sputnik showed. In 2024, 14 more nations embarked on de-dollarization, according to the analysis.

💬 Who are supporters and opponents of the dollar?

There are 94 states that did not introduce any restrictive measures against the use of the greenback, 46 countries that switched to making transactions in national currencies, and 53 countries that openly opposed the US currency, the research shows.

As for the countries opposing the dollar, these mainly include former members of the socialist bloc, BRICS members, and their allies, plus the Italian-Russian Chamber of Commerce, which launched its own system of settlements in rubles.

💸 Why will US add to end of the greenback’s era?

This year may see further developments related to de-dollarization, independent industry expert Leonid Khazanov told Sputnik.

"The US itself will contribute to promoting the rejection of the dollar due to the peculiarities of its policy. While declaring support for democracy wherever possible, Washington is in reality trying to impose its will on the world, trying to make all countries dependent on itself. This, as history shows, cannot continue forever," the expert pointed out.

🌏 BRICS on path to de-dollarization

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said late last year that the de-dollarization of the country’s foreign trade is underway, with about 90% of all mutual payments with China and about 50% with India being made in national currencies.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, for his part, praised BRICS members’ efforts to fulfill de-dollarization “through the use of mutual clearing schemes, a long-tested method that needs to be further developed and given a multilateral nature."

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