Diplomacy and finance are rarely dull, but recent moves by Russia, South Africa, and their BRICS partners have injected a fresh dose of intrigue into global affairs. As November 2025 drew to a close, officials from Russia and South Africa met for high-level talks, signaling a deliberate effort to deepen economic, political, and cultural ties. At the same time, a broader narrative has unfolded: the BRICS bloc—now a formidable coalition including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Indonesia—has ramped up its campaign to reduce the world’s reliance on the US dollar, challenging the financial status quo that’s held for decades.
According to reporting from Watcher Guru, economist Jeffrey Sachs recently laid out how the US dollar’s dominance is eroding. He explained that the shift is being driven by the combined economic heft of BRICS countries—who together represent about 46% of the world’s population and 41% of global GDP—and by their shared frustration with what Brazilian President Lula described as life under the “thumb of a US empire.” Sachs pointed out that institutions like the IMF and World Bank, long considered multilateral, remain “American dominated institutions,” with headquarters just blocks from the White House. “You don’t even need to text it,” Sachs quipped, highlighting the proximity and influence. But, as he emphasized, “this influence is changing.”
It’s not just about money. At the heart of the Russia–South Africa summit was a push to expand economic cooperation across sectors like mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and energy. South Africa is eager to attract Russian investment in infrastructure, nuclear research, and technology, while Russia eyes greater access to South African minerals and agricultural products. Both sides underscored the need to boost trade volumes, streamline market access, and pursue joint projects that promote sustainable development. According to official statements, the meeting reaffirmed commitments to initiatives aimed at enhancing industrial capacity and fostering growth in key industries.
But why now? The answer, it seems, lies in a mix of global uncertainty and shifting alliances. Both Russia and South Africa are pursuing more independent foreign policy strategies, and their talks underscored a shared desire to deepen mutually beneficial partnerships. As outlined in their joint discussions, there’s a strong emphasis on coordinated action within multilateral platforms—especially BRICS, the G20, and the United Nations. Both countries are pushing for greater representation of developing nations in global decision-making, and security cooperation is on the table as well. Peacekeeping, cybersecurity, and intelligence-sharing were all discussed, with leaders expressing interest in expanding training exchanges and aligning policies.
At the July 2025 BRICS summit, tensions came to a head when former US President Donald Trump threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS members unless they promised never to create a new BRICS currency or back any other currency to replace the US dollar. It was a bold move, but it didn’t go unanswered. President Lula, speaking at the summit, fired back: “We don’t need an emperor and we’re not going to succumb to this kind of pressure.” He added, “It’s not right for a president of a country the size of the United States to threaten the world online.” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa joined the chorus, telling journalists, “The powerful should not seek vengeance against those working for good in the world.”
These confrontations are more than just rhetorical fireworks. Sachs recounted how trade battles between the US and China have exposed American vulnerabilities. When Trump threatened China with 100% tariffs, China responded with 120% tariffs of their own. The US then tried to restrict advanced chip exports to China, only for China to threaten cutting off supplies of rare earth magnets—materials that are, as Sachs put it, “absolutely essential for all manufacturing, for automotive, for military and so on.” Since the US doesn’t produce these magnets, it had to back down quickly. Sachs described the episode: “The US within a half an hour said, ‘we surrender.'”
For Russia and South Africa, the diplomatic overtures go beyond economics and geopolitics. The two countries are also investing in educational, cultural, and scientific cooperation. Plans are in the works to increase student exchange programs, language training, and tourism partnerships, as well as to collaborate on scientific research in space and public health. The goal, officials say, is to foster deeper mutual understanding and long-term goodwill—a strategy that could pay dividends as the global order continues to shift.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responding to Trump’s threats, observed that “more and more countries are switching to the use of national currencies in their trade and foreign economic activities.” He argued that if the US continues to use economic force to compel countries to use the dollar, “it will further strengthen the trend of switching to national currencies.” It’s a classic case of unintended consequences: the harder Washington pushes, the more determined other countries become to find alternatives.
And what about Washington’s own role in this? Sachs argues that US power decline is less about global fragmentation and more about America’s own choices. “The world is not fragmenting. The US is isolating itself,” he said, noting that America “doesn’t even go to the parties anymore” and instead relies on tariffs and restrictions. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is “remaining open and it’s trading.”
The Russia–South Africa meeting, set against the backdrop of these global shifts, reflects a broader intention among BRICS members to deepen strategic cooperation. Trade, energy, political coordination, security, education, and cultural exchange all featured in the discussions. The message is clear: by working together, these countries aim to build partnerships that support long-term development and amplify their influence on the world stage.
As the dust settles from these latest diplomatic maneuvers, one thing is certain—BRICS fading US dollar efforts are gaining ground, and the Russia–South Africa partnership is poised to play a more significant role in regional and international affairs. Whether Washington can adapt remains to be seen, but for now, the momentum is unmistakably shifting.