Opinion | Trump’s America will be forced to grapple with a rising Brics

The year is shaping up to be one of shake-ups in global geopolitics and power. Donald Trump has assumed the US presidency for a second term with a resounding victory, after the Democrats failed in their appeal to working-class and other voters during a time of uncertainty, inflationary pressures and worries over immigration.

Trump has promised much, from tax cuts and tariffs to ending the Ukraine war, amid US trade tensions with China. Trump has replaced Pax Americana with “America first”.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has the upper hand in the war he commenced against Ukraine, winning territory at a considerable cost from an exhausted but resistant Ukrainian military. Putin, under sanctions and pressure from the United States and its allies, has shifted the geopolitical centre of gravity away from Western institutions to one that is fashioned more to his liking.

What do we mean? We see a rising, empowered and enlarged Brics grouping that could eclipse the G20 as the key forum for many states. Last October, Putin hosted the 16th summit for Brics, which has grown from a body comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and, most recently, Indonesia.

The Kazan summit was a major step change for Brics. It was attended by dozens of countries that had applied for or are considering membership in the expanding club. If it was meant to show the world that Putin was not isolated, it worked.