In a complex world, America benefits from partnerships, and despite the malevolent inclusion of Iran, China, and Russia, the broader group of nations known as the BRICS can be a natural match for America’s own ambitions.
BRICS aren’t a fixed bloc, with clearly defined membership. Some are dynamic, fast-growing countries eager for investment and a larger role on the world stage, while others are struggling from years of war and conflict. They are better understood as a flexible grouping of countries making sovereign decisions about their place and partnerships in the world. Known for consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.
While these counties often seek to coordinate economic and diplomatic efforts, the BRICS are better understood as a forum where these nations are actively expanding their voice in global affairs, as well seeking additional power in international relations.
As the United States continues to build its economic statecraft – ensuring fair treatment for U.S. companies, opportunities for more secure U.S. investment, and balanced partnerships on development, including global health – these ambitious middle-power nations provide an opportunity to structure relationships that benefit the American people, allowing other countries’ citizens to prosper, too.
Of course, the U.S. adversaries of Iran, Russia, and China have attempted to steer BRICS members in a confrontational direction, but many of other BRICS haven’t followed. Instead, from Pakistan to Egypt to India, they have focused on their own priorities and remained pragmatic in their engagements.
For example, many BRICS countries have approached the Iran conflict with caution and, in some cases, have offered mediation or a diplomatic avenue to seek resolution.
While Iran itself is an original BRIC, the group as a whole hasn’t rallied behind it in a unified or operational way in today’s conflict. Pakistan and Egypt have emerged as potential peace brokers, with Islamabad offered as a possible site for peace talks. India has been careful to balance its relationships with Gulf nations, Israel, and the United States, while South Africa has emphasized its nonalignment while calling for deescalation.
The conflict has demonstrated that many BRICS will prioritize policies that benefit their own economies and their own populations … a position very similar, in fact, to the America First strategy of the United States. These rising powers aren’t interested in a global structure defined by rigid blocs, but are, just like the United States, seeking partnerships that deliver results.
Many of these nations are invested in the global norms that benefit all countries: freedom of navigation, stabilization of energy markets, and cooperation to mitigate global insecurity. These global standards aren’t abstract, but often the result of concrete actions that American takes with its partners.
This framework provides an opportunity for the United States with ambitious partners, interested in attracting investment, who value their own sovereignty. The future for U.S. policymakers, as well as American businesses, can be to ensure that the United States is positioned to compete for advantage in these markets instead of our adversaries
The United States begins with a purely American edge: We are the home of innovation, of the American dream. The United States has been the partner of choice for investment, security cooperation and global coordination. We value opportunity and accountability, leadership, compassion, moving quickly, and simply making things work. For generations, other countries have looked to the United States for these qualities – areas where American know-how, both private and public sector, and American leadership are indispensable.
Global engagement doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game, and – like America – many of these countries benefit from more than one parter. The United States’ goal isn’t exclusivity, but for other countries to prefer American partnership – in business, investment, security, alliances, and alignment. This isn’t a lapse in U.S. strategy, but a feature of a more complex and increasingly multipolar world.
For many BRICS countries specifically, America raises the bar by insisting on clean governance for foreign assistance, for investment, and accountability for pledged reforms. By supporting these counties in their own aspirations, investing in shared growth, and welcoming new voices in global leadership, Washington can move from being a gatekeeper to acting as a partner and facilitator in progress.
American leadership has always been strongest when it is optimistic, pragmatic, and grounded in American values. This moment and our targeted engagement with many of these nations calls for the same approach.
By engaging those BRICS countries open to American partnership, competing where it counts, and nurturing deeper relationships to benefit Americans, the United States can shape not just how these nations respond to today’s crises, but how they define their partnerships for years to come.
