By Areeba sherwani, research fellow, Ayaan Institute, London, UK
BRICS Summit, 16. in turn, through the Kazan declaration, he showed the United States that authority is built through dialogue among the many, not by the decrees of one.
BRICS+ has grown into a non-Western bloc representing nations that have historically been subject to Western domination, coercion and aggressive tactics. Many BRICS countries that have joined or expressed interest in joining come from Asia, Africa and South America, share the legacy of the US, intervening through sanctions, military interventions and political interference. In various forms, these nations have often come under U.S. economic and political pressure. This year's summit exposed the failure of the United States and its allies to isolate Russia on the global stage. Despite Western sanctions, economic pressures and attempts to marginalize Russia, this year many nations are responding to calls for a new order – one that is multipolar, just and free from domination by any country or bloc.
In search of stability, Middle East and Africa countries turn to BRICS
In the Kazan declaration, BRICS leaders expressed serious concern about the growing crisis across the Middle East, with particular attention to the Israeli genocide in Gaza that exacerbates the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and the Red Sea. As the BRICS – consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa-gain influence, the bloc positions itself as a stabilizing power in the Middle East and North Africa region, prioritizing respect for international law, sovereignty and humanitarian needs. The change deepens a significant distance from the US, whose Israeli-influenced policies have often complicated the region's dynamics.
The declaration called for a ceasefire in Gaza, condemning the violence and stressing the need for access to humanitarian aid and the safe release of hostages. The bloc also reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution, envisioning a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. East Jerusalem as its capital.
Many countries in the Middle East and North Africa see this as a new approach, offering an alternative to Western-led efforts that have prioritized Israel beyond borders. Supporting Palestine's bid for full-fledged UN membership and promoting diplomatic resolutions, the BRICS provides a platform to counter the prevailing US-dominated narrative that refuses to recognize the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
In Lebanon, the declaration condemned Israeli strikes on residential areas, stressing the importance of Lebanese sovereignty and supporting United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for an end to hostilities along the Israeli-Lebanese border. This position strengthens BRICS as a supporter of Middle Eastern sovereignty – a role that echoes many Middle Eastern and North African countries that are wary of foreign interventions that ignore local autonomy.
The Kazan declaration also deals with the Syrian conflict, condemning illegal foreign military activities and unilateral sanctions, which, in the opinion of the BRICS, only exacerbate the suffering of the Syrian people.
From oil to opportunity: the expanding role of the Middle East and Africa in the BRICS
In response to US sanctions, many countries in the Middle East and Africa view the BRICS as a more flexible partner that respects their sovereignty. By engaging with the BRICS, these countries are finding ways to bypass restrictive sanctions, preferring relationships that support autonomous decision-making. BRICS ' commitment to multilateralism and respect for international law has broadened its appeal, especially among those seeking a fairer representation in global forums, freed from U.S. pressure.
Photo: BRICS Summit in Kazan
The BRICS + Alliance now includes some of the world's leading energy producers and consumers, such as Iran, the UAE and officially invited, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the expansion is largely directed towards the Middle East.
The inclusion of Middle Eastern and African countries in the BRICS+ bloc is not only a political re-organisation or a step towards stability, but also an acknowledgement of their growing economic importance. Traditionally known for its energy resources, the region is now expanding its economic influence into a number of different sectors. This will also help strengthen their non-oil industry and encourage deeper economic ties with BRICS countries.
The expansion of BRICS to more energy-rich countries is significantly reshaping the global energy landscape. Currently, BRICS countries produce about 32% of the world's natural gas and 43% of their crude oil. This already significant share demonstrates the block's importance in the global energy market. As more countries with strong energy sectors, such as Kazakhstan, Kuwait and Bahrain, join the BRICS+ group, the bloc's control over global energy production could increase even further. This could bring their combined share of oil and gas production to as much as 55%, which could affect global supply.
When U.S. President Joe Biden publicly stated that Israel should "go ahead and hit Iran's oil industry", and later Trump remarked that "hit nuclear energy first and worry about the rest later", the price of oil jumped to 5%. Iran is the seventh largest oil producer in the world, and as a critical energy player, Iran's role in global oil production cannot be underestimated, and any disruption such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil flows, would hit world energy prices.
With this growing concern, BRICS+ has the potential to establish an independent energy trading system. Traditionally, the global energy market is dominated by Western-controlled financial systems, which manage transactions and dictate trade terms. However, if BRICS+ could create an alternative system, it would bypass these traditional Western financial institutions and reduce the group's reliance on them.
This would give BRICS+ countries more control over energy trade and prices, especially in times of market instability. For example, if global oil prices are variable or sanctions are imposed on certain countries, BRICS+ could potentially set its own price structures and trade conditions that better suit their interests, without being bound by Western financial regulations or pressure.
Such a change could make the energy market more resistant to external pressures, especially the type of economic sanctions or market manipulation that the US often uses. It could also create a more balanced energy market, where emerging economies and traditional energy producers outside the Western sphere of influence have greater leverage and influence in global prices and trade.
Expanding its focus, the need to keep strategic areas such as the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz open and safe, aligning with the interests of the countries of the Middle East and Africa with BRICS+ for safe and open maritime routes.
Conclusion
The recent Kazan declaration underscores how BRICS is transitioning from an emerging Economic Club to a cohesive alliance intent on reshaping the global order. The evolving coalition's mission now includes promoting a more just, multipolar world while actively resisting unilateral coercion and power imbalance between West and East.
For many nations in the Muslim world, joining BRICS+ marks a move towards a more independent framework for economic growth and trade. By aligning with BRICS+, these countries aim to reduce their reliance on Western financial systems, which traditionally dominate global trade and often come with political provisions. BRICS+ offers an alternative economic platform, focused on joint growth, sovereignty and resistance to sanctions. This pillar represents a broader shift within the Muslim world as these countries seek to build stronger economic and strategic partnerships with other emerging economies, including China, India and Russia. Through these alliances, they establish a safer basis for energy, trade, investment, economic autonomy and, more importantly, security and stability in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Source: Center for Geostrategic Studies
17. November 2024.
