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Saudi Arabia says no to BRICS: rivalry with Iran and ties with the US weighed on the decision. Learn more about global tensions and implications!
The decision of Saudi Arabia not to join BRICS, a group composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, caused surprise on the global geopolitical scene. Despite the initial interest, Riad chose to keep his distance from the bloc, raising doubts about the internal cohesion and the direction of the group. Understand the main reasons behind this refusal and its possible implications.
What is BRICS and what is its purpose?
O BRICS emerged as a concept in 2001, coined by the economist Jim O'Neill, to describe emerging economies with high growth potential: Brazil, Russia, India and China. In 2009, the group was formalized with the aim of promoting a multipolar global order, strengthen the influence of emerging powers and reduce dependence on Western institutions, such as the G7.
Since then, BRICS has worked to increase economic cooperation, with a milestone being the creation of the New Development Bank (NBD) in 2015, aimed at financing projects in developing countries. More recently, the strategy of BRICS+ began to include new guest countries, such as Argentina, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates and the very Saudi Arabia.
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Why did Saudi Arabia refuse to join BRICS?
the decision of Riad was based on economic, political and strategic factors. Below, we explore the main reasons:
1. Rivalry with Iran
One of the central factors is the historic tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two regional rivals vying for influence in the Middle East. Iran's recent entry into BRICS has heightened Saudi concerns, as sharing the same political space with tehran could weaken Riyadh's strategic interests.
The dispute between the two countries, which is reflected in proxy wars, like the conflict in Yemen, made coexistence in the block impractical. The participation of both in the BRICS could deepen the group's internal divisions.
2. Lack of institutional structure in BRICS
Another critical point for Saudi Arabia is the absence of a robust institutional structure in BRICS. Unlike blocks such as European Union, BRICS does not have a permanent secretariat, a parliament or clear decision-making mechanisms. This lack of organization limits the group's ability to implement a common agenda in an efficient way.
The Russian president himself, Vladimir Putin, has already recognized the need to improve the BRICS structure so that it becomes more effective in its actions.
3. Strategic relations with the United States
Saudi Arabia maintains a historic and strategic alliance with United States, especially in areas such as defense and economic cooperation. Although Riyadh has sought to diversify its partnerships with China e Russia, joining BRICS could be interpreted as a anti-American alignment, something that would be counter-productive for their national interests.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, BRICS has increasingly been seen as a confrontation platform with the US, especially under the influence of Moscow and Beijing. For the Saudis, this alignment could jeopardize their strategic and economic agreements with Washington.
4. The pragmatism of Saudi foreign policy
Under the leadership of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has adopted a foreign policy pragmatic and balanced. The country seeks to strengthen its relations with several global powers, without compromising its autonomy. This stance reflects Riyadh's desire to maintain a strategic balance in a multipolar international scenario.
For the Saudis, joining BRICS could limit their ability to position themselves as an independent actor, especially in a bloc where Russia and China have strong influence.
Is BRICS becoming anti-Western?
The perception that BRICS is transforming into a geopolitical tool for Russia and China to challenge Western interests raises concerns for both outside countries and the group's own members. Initiatives such as the use of local currencies ea breeding of alternative payment systems aim to reduce dependence on the dollar, but also reflect Moscow and Beijing's confrontational agenda.
This posture can generate internal resistance, especially in countries like Brazil, which maintain pragmatic relations with the United States and seek to avoid excessively polarized alignments.
Saudi pragmatism prevails
The refusal of the Saudi Arabia in joining BRICS reflects the geopolitical complexities of a multipolar world. Although the group has the potential to reshape the global order, its internal divisions, the lack of institutionalization and the agenda of confrontation with the West make its consolidation difficult.
For Riyadh, maintaining a position balanced between the great powers is more advantageous than jeopardizing their strategic alliances with the United States. The Saudi decision also exposes the challenges for BRICS in building a unified agenda that meets the interests of its members, without deepening regional or ideological tensions.
