In a pointed statement aimed at Western-led international institutions, Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed the growing role of BRICS as a platform for building a new model of global cooperation-one that he described as “free from all forms of discrimination, dictate, and sanction pressure.” The remarks, conveyed through a letter to participants of the upcoming St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), underscore the Kremlin’s ambition to position BRICS as a cornerstone of a multipolar world order that counters what Moscow sees as the hegemonic practices of the United States and its allies.

The 28th edition of SPIEF, set to take place from June 18 to 21, is expected to draw thousands of delegates from across the globe, including from countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. This year’s forum arrives amid heightened geopolitical tensions and renewed debates over the future of global governance, offering an opportune stage for Moscow to showcase its vision of international partnership through BRICS.

The BRICS bloc-originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-was conceived in the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis as an alternative economic coalition to challenge Western dominance. In 2024, the group expanded to include Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran, bolstering its geographic and economic diversity. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) data, BRICS nations now account for approximately 40% of global GDP in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and represent more than 40% of the world’s population.

In his letter, Putin emphasized the bloc’s potential as a vehicle for “equal and mutually beneficial international cooperation,” a recurring........

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