### Summary
Many developing countries are frustrated with the dominance of the US dollar in the global financial system and are seeking alternatives, but no concrete proposals have emerged. The dollar's influence can destabilize economies and impose financial sanctions on adversaries. However, the alternatives to the dollar have not gained enough traction, and the dollar remains the most-used currency in global business.
### Facts
- The strength of the US dollar against the Nigerian currency has made imported goods, like garments, unaffordable for local consumers.
- The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with other emerging market countries, are meeting to express their grievances about the dominance of the dollar in the global financial system.
- The BRICS countries have discussed expanding trade in their own currencies to reduce reliance on the dollar.
- The US dollar is the most-used currency in global business and has shrugged off past challenges to its preeminence.
- The alternatives to the dollar, such as the euro and China's yuan, have not gained enough international gravitas.
- The dollar's influence can impose financial sanctions and destabilize economies.
- Many developing countries, like Kenya and Zimbabwe, have expressed their frustrations with the dollar and are seeking alternatives.
- Despite the frustrations, the dollar still has its supporters and is seen as a stabilizing force in some economies.
### Summary
Many developing countries, including BRICS nations, are frustrated with the dominance of the U.S. dollar and will discuss alternatives at a summit in Johannesburg. However, the dollar's position as the dominant global currency remains unchallenged.
### Facts
- The strength of the U.S. dollar against local currencies in developing countries has caused prices of foreign goods to soar, leading to reduced sales and job layoffs.
- The BRICS bloc, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with other emerging market countries, will discuss their grievances against the U.S. dollar's dominance at a summit in Johannesburg.
- The BRICS countries have previously talked about introducing their own currency, but no concrete proposals have emerged. However, they have discussed expanding trade in their own currencies to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
- The U.S. dollar is the most widely used currency in global business and previous challenges to its dominance have failed.
- The BRICS countries launched the New Development Bank in 2015 as an alternative to the U.S. and European-dominated International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
- Developing countries are concerned about the U.S.'s use of the dollar's global influence to impose financial sanctions and the destabilizing effects of fluctuations in the dollar on their economies.
- While the euro and China's yuan have gained some traction in recent years, they still do not rival the dollar in terms of international gravitas.
- The alternatives to the dollar have not been able to gain dominance, and any shift away from the dollar will take time and trust.
- Some countries, such as Argentina and Zimbabwe, have experienced economic turmoil and have turned to the U.S. dollar for stability.
### Summary
The BRICS countries, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, are holding a summit in Johannesburg to challenge Western economic dominance. They aim to create a multipolar global order and are open to expansion.
### Facts
- The BRICS countries represent 23% of the world's GDP and 42% of the world's population.
- The group was formed in 2009 and meets annually to assert their position against the US and EU.
- The BRICS bloc is now open to expansion, with 23 applicants and numerous interested parties.
- The New Development Bank, an alternative to the World Bank and IMF, has invested $30 billion in infrastructure projects.
- Russia's President Putin, who is the target of an ICC arrest warrant, will attend the summit via video link.
- The BRICS countries aim to decrease their reliance on the US dollar and increase the use of their national currencies.
- They also plan to create their own international university rankings, challenging existing rankings that may exclude certain countries for political reasons.
### Summary
India is unlikely to endorse a common BRICS currency, as it fears China's dominance in the bloc and the strengthening of the yuan. However, it may not immediately block discussions on the proposed currency at the BRICS Summit.
### Facts
- 🚫 India is not interested in being part of the proposed BRICS currency, as it sees it as China's attempt to gain hegemony.
- 🔄 India may not use its veto power to stop the currency proposal immediately, but it has concerns about China's dominating role.
- 🤝 The proposed BRICS currency is expected to heavily benefit China, as it is the dominant economy in the bloc.
- 🌍 The plan for a common BRICS currency may take time due to the different levels of economic development among the members.
- 📅 The 15th BRICS Summit will be held in Johannesburg from August 22-24, with leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa expected to attend.
- 💲 The US dollar accounts for 58.36% of global foreign exchange reserves, while the Chinese yuan only accounts for 2.7%.
- 💱 Determining the value of the proposed BRICS currency would be a challenge due to the differing economic situations of the member countries.
- 💼 Harmonizing financial rules and regulations, such as debt-to-GDP ratio, would also be difficult for the BRICS members.
- 💔 Weaker economies in the EU, like Greece and Portugal, faced difficulties when the euro was introduced, and BRICS countries lack sufficient social security to handle strict debt-to-GDP ratios.
### Summary
The 15th BRICS Summit will discuss the expansion of BRICS and the use of national currency for trading among member countries.
### Facts
- 💼 The expansion of BRICS and the use of national currency are key agendas for the 15th BRICS Summit.
- 🤝 The guidelines and criteria for expansion will be decided during the meeting, considering agenda items and economic development.
- 🌍 Developing countries collectively decided on the expansion of BRICS, taking into account agenda items and economic development.
- 📈 The use of national currency for trading among BRICS countries is not new and has already happened.
- 🤝 Development issues important for the Global South will be part of the discussion in the BRICS Summit.
- 🤝 This is the first in-person meeting of leaders since the pandemic, which adds significance to the summit.
- 🌍 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the leaders of Brazil, China, and South Africa for the 15th BRICS Summit.
- 🇷🇺 Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the meeting virtually, and the Russian delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
- 🌍 Prime Minister Modi will also participate in a special event called "Brics - Africa outreach and Brics plus dialogue" after the summit, including countries from the African continent.
Source: [The Economic Times](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/expansion-of-brics-use-of-national-currency-among-key-agendas-of-discussion-in-brics-summit-indias-brics-sherpa/articleshow/85503447.cms)
The inclusion of oil-producing countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE into the BRICS alliance could lead to 90% of the world's oil trade being settled in local currencies instead of the USD, potentially triggering a shift away from the U.S. dollar and impacting the global finance system.
The Brics economic group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is discussing the possibility of expanding its membership and promoting the use of local currencies for trade settlement, with aims to challenge the dominance of the US dollar, but analysts believe that the greenback is unlikely to lose its status as the international reserve currency.
The BRICS summit, which aims to establish a new world monetary order and give voice to underrepresented nations, is criticized for being a nebulous concept without concrete achievements and is primarily centered around China.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his support for the expansion of BRICS membership, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the process to be accelerated, potentially boosting the group's global influence and countering the dominance of the Group of Seven. Several nations have shown interest in joining, with China taking the lead in pushing for expansion. However, India has advocated for a cautious approach due to concerns that the bloc may become influenced by its neighbor.
BRICS, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, now represents almost a third of global GDP and is surpassing the economic influence of the G7, with over 40 nations expressing interest in joining.
Brazil's President proposed the creation of a common currency for BRICS nations to reduce their vulnerability to dollar exchange rate fluctuations, although officials and economists have acknowledged the challenges of such a project.
South Africa's finance minister says that the BRICS grouping will not replace international payment systems like SWIFT but will explore creating one that strengthens trade in local currencies.
The BRICS summit is aiming to reduce reliance on the U.S. Dollar, as the coalition confirms new members including UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina, and discusses the possibility of a new payment system and currency backed by gold.
The BRICS, a bloc of emerging market nations, has expanded its membership to include Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Argentina, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the goal of building a fair, just, inclusive, and prosperous world; however, experts question whether BRICS can effectively compete with the West given their differing priorities, and the ambition of creating a common BRICS currency to rival the dollar is unlikely to materialize due to competing interests and priorities among member states.
The BRICS summit focused on increasing the use of local currencies for trade, but there were no discussions about a digital currency; however, three non-BRICS countries also announced plans to use local currencies instead of the dollar for cross-border trade.
BRICS is considering making local currencies the only accepted form of payment for oil and gas settlements, which could potentially shift global power from the West to the East.
The BRICS 2023 Summit saw the expansion of the alliance with the addition of six countries, potentially leading to a shift in the global economic order and significant de-dollarization efforts, while notable absences by Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping raised concerns, and China and India made progress in their border talks.
The BRICS nations are divided on the issue of de-dollarization, as statements from the bloc's leaders indicated, despite discussions about the creation of a common currency to rival the US dollar.
India's adversarial relationship with China and its moves to block imports and investment from China could complicate its involvement in BRICS, as China seeks to expand the group and use it as a platform to challenge Western dominance.
The expansion of BRICS to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates will make the bloc represent 46 percent of the world population and 37 percent of global GDP, but China's economic dominance within the group raises questions about whether it will truly be an "equal partnership."
The dollar is not likely to lose its status as the global reserve currency despite the expansion of the BRICS group of nations and their aim to find an alternative, as technology and not commodity-based currencies are expected to be the driving force in the future.
The dollar's status as a global reserve currency is facing challenges as countries like China and India promote trade in their own currencies, digital currencies gain popularity, and geopolitical conflicts threaten the international monetary system dominated by the dollar.
JP Morgan predicts that the U.S. dollar is at risk of losing its global reserve status as BRICS countries increase their use of local currencies for trade settlement, although the chances of this happening in the near future are slim.
The BRICS alliance is considering the creation of a 'single unit account' as an alternative currency to the US dollar, in order to settle cross-border transactions without depending on a single currency or local currencies.
Creating a BRICS currency backed by gold is considered nonsensical by a former Bank of America strategist, as it would essentially be another gold derivative and would weaken individual currencies within the group.
The BRICS expansion, which includes countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran, has raised concerns in the U.S. and EU as it poses a threat to Western-dominated financial markets, while China's influence grows and the alliance aims for de-dollarization in global trade.
Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's proposal for a shared currency among the BRICS nations has been met with skepticism due to logistical and political challenges, with differing levels of enthusiasm among the other leaders and the dominant position of the US dollar in global trade.
The BRICS bloc, including countries like India, China, and Russia, is slowly reducing its dependency on the US dollar and using their local currencies for trade, which could potentially weaken the US dollar's position as the dominant global currency.
The BRICS coalition, along with new members, aims to reduce the dominance of the US dollar by using their own currencies for oil trade, posing potential risks to the US's global leadership and economy.
The American banking, trade, forex, tourism, and other sectors could be severely impacted if BRICS countries stop using the U.S. dollar for trade, leading to potential financial catastrophe and hyperinflation.
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is aiming to challenge the global reserve status of the US dollar by exerting control over a significant portion of the oil sector, starting with Russia's Gazprom Neft announcing that it will no longer rely on the US dollar for trade and is open to accepting local currencies.
BRICS countries, including China, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia, sold a total of $17.4 billion in U.S. treasuries in September 2023 to prevent the dollar from rising against local currencies and weakening commodities, such as gold and oil.
India has been accused of aggressively selling US dollars to prevent its local currency, the Rupee, from depreciating, a move that has left foreign exchange traders puzzled. This intervention by India, along with similar actions by China and Japan, reflects a trend among BRICS countries to challenge the dominance of the US dollar in international currency markets.
BRICS' expansion and the dominance of the oil market could lead to the US and Europe needing local currencies to buy oil, aligning with the bloc's de-dollarization agenda.
The BRICS alliance, specifically China, is selling off billions worth of US treasuries and stocks to defend the weakened Yuan and halt the rise of the US dollar against the Yuan, with China alone dumping $21.2 billion in August, the highest in four years.
The induction of new countries, particularly oil-exporting nations, into the BRICS alliance and their potential demand for the US and Europe to pay for oil in local currencies could decrease the demand for the US dollar and lead to its depreciation, impacting the purchasing power of the dollar and rewriting trade policies. However, it is unlikely that BRICS would be able to successfully demand this, as it could result in the loss of bilateral trade deals with the West and negatively impact their GDP and economy.
Cracks are appearing within the BRICS alliance as India refuses to pay for Russian crude oil in Chinese Yuan and instead prefers the US dollar or Rupee, citing concerns about the growing prominence of the Yuan and its potential impact on India's efforts to internationalize the Rupee, further straining relations between India and China.
The possibility of the BRICS bloc launching its own currency at the 2024 summit has been raised, with Russian economist Sergey Glazyev stating that the currency is almost ready and awaiting political consent from the BRICS countries.
The BRICS currency, which aims to replace the US dollar as the world's reserve currency, is almost ready and awaiting political consent from all BRICS countries before its release.