Despite its internal conflicts, the BRICS community has been seen as a success story. Its combined share of global economic output rose from 18% to 26% between 2010 and 2021, Two more indicators underline the group’s potential: the growth rate of intra-BRICS exports and the level of foreign direct investment into BRICS countries is above the global average. The BRICS countries have not taken part in the punitive measures imposed on Moscow by Western nations since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. As a result, China, Brazil and India are among the biggest buyers of cheap Russian oil. The BRICS summit in South Africa is set to be all about the group’s plans to expand and how to deal with sanctions. Do you think that BRICS will be able to navigate and counter the western sanctions ?

