07/08/2025 / By Lance D Johnson
The world is witnessing a seismic power shift as the BRICS alliance — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — emerges as a formidable counterweight to Western financial and political hegemony. At the heart of this transformation is a bold new vision for conflict resolution, economic independence, and a multipolar world order that defies the entrenched corruption of traditional institutions. Speaking at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called upon the alliance to “find just and lasting solutions” to global conflicts, signaling an aggressive push against the faltering, war-driven legacy of U.S. and European dominance. Could 2024 be the year BRICS finally breaks the chains of dollar imperialism?
Key points:
While NATO and the UN continue to fuel proxy wars and fail at conflict resolution, BRICS is stepping into the void with a diplomatic offensive rooted in sovereignty and multilateralism. Ramaphosa explicitly condemned the “heavy human toll” of conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Africa, framing BRICS as the guardian of “peaceful coexistence.” This rhetoric starkly contrasts with U.S.-led wars that have destabilized regions for decades — proof that the traditional powers are losing their grip.
China and Brazil’s joint 2024 Ukraine peace proposal, backed by BRICS members, already demonstrated the group’s rising influence. South Africa’s vocal stance against Israeli aggression in Gaza further exposes the widening rift between Global South priorities and Western-aligned institutions. For nations tired of being bullied by the IMF and World Bank, BRICS offers a lifeline — one that prioritizes fair trade, mutual development, and genuine security partnerships, including counter-terrorism and cybersecurity initiatives.
The urgency behind Ramaphosa’s call for deeper BRICS cooperation is evident: U.S. aid cuts to South Africa have accelerated the push for self-reliance. ANC spokesperson Khalid Muhammad framed the withdrawal as a “wake-up call,” urging stronger ties with Russia, China, Iran, and other markets long demonized by Washington. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov boasted that BRICS now controls 40% of global GDP — a staggering economic counterbalance to the declining G7.
This shift isn’t just ideological — it’s financial. BRICS nations are fast-tracking alternatives to SWIFT, exploring gold-backed currencies, and expanding trade in local currencies to bypass dollar dependency. For countries like Ethiopia and Egypt, newly inducted as full members, the alliance offers a hedge against Western sanctions and financial coercion. The message is clear: the era of U.S. dollar supremacy is quickly fading away.
From its 2009 inception, BRICS was designed as a challenge to unipolar domination. Today, with Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia joining, the bloc has evolved into a coalition of the “World Majority” — nations once sidelined by neocolonial debt traps and rigged trade deals. Lavrov’s declaration that BRICS acts as a “focal point” for the Global Majority underscores a historic realignment.
South Africa’s expulsion from U.S. aid programs and the subsequent diplomatic tensions highlight the stakes: either submit to Western diktats or embrace the rising alternative. As Muhammad noted, the US’s punitive measures have inadvertently “pushed us into diversifying” — proof that oppression breeds innovation.
The battle lines are drawn. BRICS doesn’t just seek influence — it demands systemic change. The question is no longer if the old order will fall, but how quickly.
Sources include:
Tagged Under:
alternative economics, BRICS, Cyril Ramaphosa, De-dollarization, Dollar Collapse, economic liberation, financial independence, global power shift, Global South, gold backed currency, Khalid Muhammad, multipolar world, NATO failure, peace diplomacy, Sergey Lavrov, South Africa, SWIFT alternative, U.S. aid cuts, Western hegemony
This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
COPYRIGHT © 2017 COLLAPSE.NEWS
All content posted on this site is protected under Free Speech. Collapse.news is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Collapse.news assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. All trademarks, registered trademarks and service marks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.