2023 is an important year for the BRICS Group, which for the first time has exceeded the G7 GDP in purchasing power parity and refounded with the enlargement adopted at the 15th Johannesburg Summit in August.

It is common to contrast the BRICS with the G7, but the nature of both groups is very different. In the G7, as in the other institutions that compete the West, Washington commands. Conversely, BRICS are based on collaboration, consensus and lack of impositions between different, often conflicting approaches and conflicts. However, on the basis of the recognition of the legitimate national interests of each, they build a multilateral framework for economic cooperation which also has positive effects on the political dimension. One example is that China has achieved a stage of distension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Representatives from almost 40 countries participated at the South African summit. China wanted ten new countries in the group and India only three. Finally, an agreement has been reached to extend the route to six countries, although it has become clear that the current one was only the first of the successive enlargements.

It was clear that Iran was going to be accepted because it is a strategic partner of China and Russia. Among other candidates, Beijing was particularly interested in the energy supply, so Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been included. Until recently Argentina seemed to be a safe candidate, but the crisis it is experiencing has generated doubts to the last moment. Egypt and Ethiopia have been admitted from Africa, so far Algeria has been left out because they wanted to take a sub-Saharan country.

BRICS 11 will control almost half of global oil production and one-third of gas. By next year, the entry of Algeria, Bolivia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Venezuela would account for approximately two-thirds of world oil production and half of gas. In addition, commercial corridors powered by Belt & Road initiave, the new Silk Road, led by China, will be secured both from land and from the sea. It is particularly striking that the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal will remain under the control of the BRICS countries. This means that the influence of the West in these areas will be considerably reduced. They are also working to reduce the importance of the dollar. BRICS 11 members and some of their allies have announced that they will increase trade in their currencies, until they continue to work towards a single settlement currency for trade between countries.

The balance between the Global South and the Western collective is changing. Developing countries are building a new world to democratize international relations and achieve a fairer distribution of wealth among countries. However, in the West it is not seen with good eyes and it is known that they will continue to hinder and sabotage. However, it will become increasingly difficult to use economic violence as the alliances of the countries of the Global South gain in density and cohesion. The economic punishment that Washington imposes at some point can have strong responses from the BRICS 11 group, for example, to stop the supply of raw materials and goods. The world has changed, but it seems that in the West we are blind and deaf and do not want to adapt to the new reality.