With U.S.-South Africa ties in the deep freeze, it was notable to see the sheer size of the U.S. delegation sent to this week’s Mining Indaba in Cape Town – one of the most prominent industry gatherings and one of the few where the Global South gets a prominent voice.
The Trump administration’s famous Afrophobia seems (momentarily at least) tempered by its greed for minerals. It is reportedly walking ...
Category: BRICS
India’s Central Bank Proposes Linking BRICS’ Digital Currencies, Sources Say
By Jaspreet Kalra and Nikunj Ohri India's central bank has proposed that BRICS countries link their official digital currencies to make cross-border trade and tourism payments easier, two sources said, which could reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar as geopolitical tensions ...
What Did Wang Yi Accomplish on His Low-Key Africa Tour?
While global attention was fixed on the fallout from U.S. intervention in Venezuela and rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi quietly toured three African countries in a notably low-profile visit. ...
South Africa Defends Naval Drills With China, Iran, and Russia as ‘Essential’
South Africa on Saturday began naval drills with Russia, Iran, and China, describing the maneuvers off its coast as not merely a show of force but a vital response to rising maritime tensions. The week‑long 'Will for Peace 2026' exercises come ...
Russia Joins Chinese, Iran Warships for Drills off South Africa
A Russian warship arrived off South Africa's main naval base on Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels in military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria's relations with Washington. The exercises draw together several nations feuding with the US administration and ...
Chinese, Iranian Warships in South Africa for Exercises
Chinese and Iranian warships were docked off South Africa's main navy base Thursday ahead of exercises that officials said were also meant to involve Russia. The January 9-16 "Will for Peace" drill hosted by South Africa risks further straining its ties ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
BRICS Criticize Tariffs at Muted Online Summit
The leaders of the BRICS countries gathered online on Monday for a summit at the invitation of Brazil, the current leader of the bloc. The gathering saw some sharp criticism of U.S.-led trade disruptions, but the tone was more muted than last week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) ...
Indonesia Backs Xi’s Global Governance Initiative at BRICS Meet
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has thrown his support behind Chinese President Xi Jinping’s proposals at a BRICS virtual leaders’ meeting last night. The statement is aligning Southeast Asia’s largest economy more closely with Beijing’s call to defend multilateralism and reject ...
BRICS Leaders Denounce Protectionism, Tariff ‘Blackmail’
Leaders of the 11-member BRICS bloc railed against economic protectionism and "tariff blackmail" during a virtual meeting Monday held amid a damaging trade war with US President Donald Trump. The group of emerging economies met via videoconference at the initiative of ...
Xi Jinping to Address BRICS Online Summit on Tackling U.S. Tariffs
China confirmed President Xi Jinping will attend today’s BRICS leaders’ online summit, hosted by Brazil, and deliver a speech. The meeting reportedly will focus on U.S. tariff actions and the future of multilateral trade rules. Russia’s Vladimir Putin will ...
China Backs Malaysia’s BRICS Bid, Laos Reiterates Interest
China has pledged full support for Malaysia’s full membership into BRICS, while Laos has reaffirmed its interest in joining. The moves underline Southeast Asia’s growing engagement with the bloc, which has expanded its membership in recent years. ...
Trump Threatens To “End” the BRICS if it Ever Challenges U.S. Dominance
U.S. President Donald Trump took aim again at the BRICS group, threatening to "end" the bloc if it took measures that challenged the current supremacy of the U.S. dollar in international trade. "When I heard about this group from BRICS, six ...
BRICS Announces Numerous New Initiatives
The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education. The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and ...