Lena Petrova: BRICS vs. West, America is Losing Southeast Asia, the BRICS Shift No One Saw Coming

The recent BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro marks a significant geopolitical realignment, with Southeast Asia increasingly engaging with the expanded BRICS bloc. Originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS has grown to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE, representing nearly 40% of global GDP by purchasing power—surpassing the G7. Southeast Asia, led by Indonesia’s full membership and Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam’s partner status, is now strategically aligning with BRICS to secure long-term peace and prosperity by leveraging two key initiatives: the New Development Bank (BRICS Bank) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). These financial…