BRICS POLICIES TOWARDS THE UNITED NATIONS, WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION AND EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

The BRICS bloc, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2023 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, forming what is now informally called BRICS+. With 13 additional partner countries, such as Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, BRICS represents a population of 3.27 billion, around 41.13% of the world’s total and contributes 32% of global GDP. Leveraging this demographic and economic power, BRICS seeks to influence global governance, particularly within the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and in its relations with the European Union (EU). This study is anchored on realist theory, while secondary data were used for the study and content analysis was used to evaluate the effectiveness of BRICS policies toward these institutions. It is argued that BRICS collectively challenges Western dominance by advocating for reforms that enhance the voice of emerging economies. At the UN, BRICS supports reforming the Security Council to reflect today’s geopolitical realities. Within the WTO, it promotes a transparent, rules-based, and inclusive trading system. While BRICS does not engage the EU as a unified bloc, individual member states interact with the EU independently. Nevertheless, the bloc has jointly criticised the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), viewing it as a veiled protectionist policy that harms BRICS exporters. The study concludes by recommending that BRICS strengthen its advocacy for UN reform, maintain a united front for equitable WTO rules, and deepen diplomatic engagement with the EU based on mutual respect and fair economic practices.