In a striking display of growing geopolitical momentum, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the BRICS economic alliance is launching an expansive series of joint development projects in cutting-edge sectors including nuclear energy, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and information technology. The announcement came during his address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 20, positioning BRICS as a central driver of future global economic transformation.

According to Putin, the bloc-comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and, most recently, new members such as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia-is actively rolling out what he termed “human-centric” industrial initiatives. These ventures are aimed at improving living standards, fostering technological innovation, and reinforcing sovereign economic growth among member nations.

“BRICS countries have launched major projects to improve the living environment… in nuclear energy and aviation, in the field of new materials and the IT industry, in robotics and artificial intelligence,” Putin stated.

Initially formed in 2006 with the inclusion of Brazil, Russia, India, and China-followed by South Africa in 2010-BRICS has traditionally focused on creating a counterbalance to Western-dominated economic institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. However, the group has evolved rapidly. The expansion in 2024 to include five more countries signaled a new era of ambition.

With over 30 additional countries applying for membership, BRICS is no longer a mere alliance of emerging economies. It is fast becoming a robust platform for shaping an alternative model of........

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