BRICS under Indian Presidency: A New Strategy Against American Economic Unilateralism

India’s assumption of the BRICS presidency in 2026 marks a decisive turning point in the consolidation of a multipolar economic order. For the first time, this key year, the bloc of the five major emerging powers is set to formulate a structured response to protectionist policies imposed by the Trump administration, particularly through the “America First” agenda.

De-nationalizing trade: the response through local currencies

According to data from NS3.AI, one of the central priorities of BRICS under Indian leadership will be to drastically reduce dependence on the US dollar. This strategy involves promoting intra-BRICS trade using the respective national currencies of member states. This approach would allow each nation to preserve its financial autonomy while creating independent commercial ecosystems from fluctuations in the dollar and geopolitical pressures from Washington.

The Global South agenda in the forefront

Unlike Western priorities focused on the stability of capitalist market institutions, the Indian presidency of BRICS aims to elevate three structural issues: climate justice, alleviating the debt burden of developing countries, and inclusive development respecting the specificities of each region. These three pillars reflect the aspirations of a global majority long marginalized by global governance institutions, which were designed during the era of Western dominance.

Unity in the face of trade tariffs

Confronted with tariffs imposed by the United States, the six BRICS members—India, Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa, with growing new partners—are striving to coordinate a common response. This economic solidarity aims to reduce the impact of trade sanctions and accelerate reforms of international governance structures, currently perceived as tools to perpetuate Western advantage.

An alternative to the existing system

India’s BRICS presidency in 2026 does not merely aim to adapt the global economic system but to propose a fundamentally different alternative. By emphasizing monetary sovereignty, climate justice, and developmental equity, India positions the bloc as a major force for geopolitical rebalancing, capable of mobilizing one-third of the global GDP in favor of a multipolar order.