Officials attend a plenary session in the outreach/BRICS Plus format at the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 24, 2024. Picture: AFP
Image: Picture: AFP
BRICS has traditionally presented itself as a trade, development, and economic bloc as opposed to a military alliance.
Member nations now have the freedom to interact with many powers while maintaining their sovereignty and strategic independence thanks to non-alignment. For South Africa, Brazil, and India—three democracies that favor diplomatic resolutions over forceful security engagements—this strategy has been particularly important. India has managed to strike a careful balance between its ties with Russia and the West, especially considering that it is a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which also includes the US, Japan, and Australia.
Additionally, avoiding needless militarisation is the greatest way to achieve the economic goals of BRICS+. Projects like the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement, the New Development Bank (NDB), and de-dollarisation projects have been key to the bloc's development. Potential allies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America who are looking for alternatives to Western financial hegemony but are cautious about getting sucked into great-power rivalry might be turned off by a defence agreement.
The Case for a BRICS Defence Pact
BRICS has benefited much from military non-alignment, but the dynamics of global security are changing quickly. Western military interventions under the pretense of promoting democracy have frequently occurred in the Global South; Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan are notable examples. Instead of resolving security challenges in Africa, Western military activities have frequently made matters worse. An increasing opposition to neocolonial military legacies is demonstrated by the recent evacuation of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
If properly formulated, a BRICS+ security framework may act as a check on the military might of the West in this situation. The three main military powers in BRICS, China, Russia and Iran, have close defence cooperation, but the other members of the group do not have a coordinated security system. A loose defence agreement that emphasises cybersecurity, counterterrorism, intelligence sharing, and peacekeeping would be a better option than a formal military alliance. Russia's increasing military involvement in Africa, both through state-sponsored programs and commercial military firms, offers BRICS+ the chance to develop security strategies that complement the goals of the Global South. China's security initiatives, like its facility in Djibouti, show that Beijing understands the importance of strategic depth that goes beyond business alliances. India is a key partner in forming a BRICS-led security initiative because of its experience with UN peacekeeping and its developing defence industry base.
A Practical Path Forward
Rather than a rigid military alliance, BRICS should develop a flexible security cooperation framework centered on three pillars:
1. Maritime Security and Anti-Piracy Operations: Working together to protect the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and South Atlantic against piracy, illegal trade, and foreign naval expansion is essential because these areas are vital maritime routes that pass through the BRICS countries. The active naval projects of Brazil, India, and South Africa may serve as the cornerstone of BRICS+ maritime cooperation.
2. Cybersecurity and Digital Sovereignty: The Global South is now vulnerable as a result of the West's dominance in cyberspace. Potential cyberwarfare was hinted at by the 2023 US National Cybersecurity Strategy, which specifically cited China and Russia as dangers. By protecting data, protecting financial transactions outside of SWIFT, and creating indigenous technological ecosystems, a BRICS+ cybersecurity project might shield the group from Western cyber-warfare strategies.
3. Peacekeeping and Conflict Mediation: Africa, which is home to BRICS+ core and partner countries, has long been plagued by conflicts that are choreographed from outside. With the help of China's economic diplomacy, Russia's military know-how, and South Africa's experience in peacebuilding, a BRICS-led mediation force might provide conflict resolution procedures separate from Western-dominated organisations like the UN Security Council and NATO.
Conclusion: Pragmatism Over Militarisation
BRICS cannot afford to take a backseat to threats to international security, even while it should reject the urge to create a military bloc akin to NATO. BRICS+ must lead an alternative security system that defends economic growth, preserves sovereignty, and fends off outside pressure. The Global South requires strategic autonomy. A military alliance runs the danger of upsetting important allies and splitting the bloc. The best course of action is to adopt a strategic security framework that emphasises peacebuilding, cyber resilience, and maritime security. Without imitating the belligerent, imperialist patterns of Western military alliances, this strategy fortifies BRICS+. In order to prevent the Global South from continuing to be at the mercy of outside forces and to establish itself as a force that can influence the global security framework, it is imperative that BRICS+ define security according to its own standards. Military non-alignment is not enough in a multipolar world. The next development of BRICS+ must be security cooperation, which is based on the ideas of sovereignty, economic stability, and regional security. Nothing less is appropriate for the Global South.
Written by:
Sesona Mdlokovana
Associate at the BRICS+ Consulting Group
UAE & African Specialist
**The Views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of Independent Media or IOL.