"BRICS": United in Name, Divided by Reality

The recent BRICS summit in Russia has been making waves, with headlines proclaiming it as a game-changer in the global order. Talk of de-dollarization, a new BRICS currency, and the bloc’s potential to rival Western hegemony sounds ambitious, even inspiring. But scratch beneath the surface, and you’ll find a coalition riddled with contradictions, rivalries, and agendas so divergent they make NATO look like a family reunion.

Here’s the brutal truth: BRICS was doomed to underdeliver the moment it tried to unite nations like India and China under one banner. While South Africa, Russia, and Brazil have roles to play, India and China are the only heavyweights capable of driving exponential growth. And yet, instead of collaborating, these two spend more time staring each other down across disputed borders than aligning on shared goals.

A Pipe Dream Called the BRICS Currency

The idea of a common BRICS currency to challenge the almighty US dollar sounds like something out of a geopolitical fantasy novel. While it’s fun to imagine an alternative reserve currency reshaping global trade, let’s get real: most BRICS nations conduct their trade in US dollars and they ain't gonna stop anytime soon.

India and China are locked in a simmering conflict over territories like Arunachal Pradesh, not to mention China’s cozy relationship with Pakistan. Russia, meanwhile, is busy sinking its economy and sacrificing its youth in a war that has turned it into a global pariah. The West is seizing every opportunity to cripple Russia economically, ensuring it’s in no position to lead any economic revolution.

Brazil and China are also no strangers to tension, with their trade disputes further complicating the BRICS dynamic. Add South Africa’s own struggles with economic instability, and you’re left with a bloc that’s more a collection of grievances than a cohesive alliance.

Chaos is the New Order

Let’s face it, the BRICS nations are less "Avengers Assemble" and more "Survivor: Geopolitical Edition." Instead of unity, we see chaos:

• China claims to lead but alienates its partners with territorial aggression and an outsized appetite for control.

• India eyes China with suspicion, reluctant to embrace a bloc dominated by Beijing.

• Russia plays the role of a rogue state, embroiled in a war that drags down its credibility and its economy.

• Brazil and South Africa lack the economic clout to influence global policy meaningfully, leaving them as supporting characters in this saga.

The cracks are so deep that even modest progress—like creating an alternative payment system—feels out of reach. BRICS nations can barely agree on trade terms, let alone coordinate something as monumental as de-dollarizing the global economy.

The Real Global Power Play

Despite the noise, BRICS is unlikely to emerge as a counterweight to Western dominance anytime soon. The United States and its allies hold structural advantages—whether through institutions like the IMF and World Bank or the entrenched use of the dollar in international trade.

BRICS lacks a unifying ideology, trust, or mechanisms for resolving disputes. Instead, it’s a battleground of competing interests where every nation pursues its agenda under the guise of cooperation.

The Future of BRICS

Does BRICS have potential? Sure. Any coalition with two economic powerhouses like India and China inherently has the seeds of opportunity. But unless these nations can rise above their rivalries and address their internal challenges, BRICS will remain a glorified talking shop.

So, while the headlines may hype BRICS as the "next NATO" or the vanguard of a "New World Order," the reality is far less glamorous. Until the bloc can achieve genuine cooperation, the dream of a unified BRICS-led global economy is little more than a geopolitical fairy tale.