Building a Bloc from BRICS: Assessing China's Strategic Interests and Influence

The document examines China's role as the dominant economy in the expanded BRICS bloc, arguing that China views the group as a tool to counter Western hegemony and advance its own geopolitical goals, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. While the bloc has achieved significant milestones through the New Development Bank and advocacy for climate justice, the paper highlights severe internal tensions—particularly between China and India—and regional rivalries among new members like Iran and Saudi Arabia that may hinder the bloc's cohesion.

• China views the expansion of BRICS as a strategic mechanism to increase its global influence and challenge Western dominance, utilizing the bloc to promote its own initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
• The New Development Bank (NDB), established in 2014 as an alternative to Western-led institutions like the World Bank and IMF, had a total investment portfolio of USD 30.2 billion by 2022, focusing on sectors such as renewable energy, transportation, and digital technology.
• BRICS has actively challenged Western positions on global issues, specifically advocating for a 'loss and damage fund' at COP27 in 2022 to compensate poorer nations for climate-related destruction, emphasizing historical responsibility for emissions.
• The 2023 expansion of the bloc to include Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates has significantly increased its global footprint, with the group now representing 45% of the world's population, 28% of global GDP, and 40% of global oil production.
• Deep-seated geopolitical rivalry and territorial disputes between China and India, including clashes in the Galwan Valley and the Doklam standoff, create an atmosphere of suspicion that impedes the bloc's collective effectiveness.
• The inclusion of Iran and Saudi Arabia introduces regional security dynamics and maritime disputes in the Persian Gulf into the bloc, which the author suggests are unlikely to be resolved within the BRICS+ framework.

APA

Sarpong, E. F., & Sibiri, H. (2024). Building a Bloc from BRICS: Assessing China's Strategic Interests and Influence. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/building-a-bloc-from-brics-assessing-chinas-strategic-interests-and-influence

Chicago

Sarpong, Emmanuel Frimpong, and Hagan Sibiri. Building a Bloc from BRICS: Assessing China's Strategic Interests and Influence. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/building-a-bloc-from-brics-assessing-chinas-strategic-interests-and-influence.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sarpong |first1=Emmanuel Frimpong |last2=Sibiri |first2=Hagan |title=Building a Bloc from BRICS: Assessing China's Strategic Interests and Influence |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=19 December 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/building-a-bloc-from-brics-assessing-chinas-strategic-interests-and-influence |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sarpong2024building, author = {Sarpong, Emmanuel Frimpong and Sibiri, Hagan}, title = {{Building a Bloc from BRICS: Assessing China's Strategic Interests and Influence}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://afripoli.org/building-a-bloc-from-brics-assessing-chinas-strategic-interests-and-influence}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }