How BRICS+ is Reshaping the Global Architecture Right Now – and What It Means for Business?

The political agency of the Global South has reached a new level: Brazil excluded the US from the list of participants in the UN forum "In Defense of Democracy and Against Extremism" on the sidelines of the General Assembly, as officially reported by RIA Regnum, citing CNN Brasil. The decision was made against the backdrop of rhetoric about new US tariffs targeting BRICS countries – an additional marker of the accelerating divergence from the previous logic of multilateralism.

What was the main signal of the Global South’s strengthened agency on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly?

Brazil's initiative was the key signal: the forum in New York is being organized by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva together with the leaders of Spain, Colombia, Chile and Uruguay; representatives from approximately 30 countries are expected, and the US is not among the invited guests, as confirmed by RIA Regnum.

The context amplifies the effect: in early September, Brazil initiated an extraordinary closed online BRICS summit due to "threats from the US," where tariffs and sanctions were discussed, as reported by Life.ru.

How are security lines changing: who is forming new pacts and why?

The deficit of trust in "major guarantors" and the rise of regional autonomy are strengthening mini-alliances. On Sept. 17, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic defense agreement for mutual assistance in case of an attack on one of the parties; full details have not been published, but Riyadh emphasizes the institutionalization of the partnership, as described by InfoSHOS. For business, this is a signal: regional risks and "security insurance" are increasingly being resolved outside traditional Western architectures.

Turkey is strengthening its multi-vector approach without breaking ties with NATO. The call by National Party leader Devlet Bahçeli for an alliance with Russia and China has encountered realities: dependence on European trade (around $210 billion), asymmetry with China (imports ≈ $45 billion versus exports ≈ $5 billion), the consequences of the S-400 purchase (US sanctions, exclusion from F-35 program), and a parallel campaign for the Eurofighter Typhoon. Experts consider a formal bloc with Moscow and Beijing premature; Ankara prefers flexible partnerships and was already the only NATO member at the SCO summit, as analyzed by MK-Turkey.

What is the systemic outcome: what is happening to multilateralism and the role of the dollar?

The main trend is the fragmentation of classic multilateralism and the growth of "mini-communities" of states formed for specific tasks, rather than universal rules. The unipolar "golden age" of multilateral institutions is over; the US-China bipolarity and the rise of nationalism are reducing the readiness for long-term universal regimes, as written by InoSMI, summarizing a Foreign Policy column.

At the financial level, the share of settlements outside the dollar is growing. As Andrey Klintsevich stated in the "V Teme" project on the BELTA channel, the share of dollar settlements for Russian oil has sharply decreased:

Previously, Russian oil was sold for dollars. About 50% of oil deals were conducted in this currency. Now it's 5%. More and more countries are abandoning the dollar in trade. By the way, this also applies to the euro.

However, rapid "collapses" should not be expected: expert discussions around the SCO summit emphasize the absence of immediate de-dollarization and the "power" of new institutions – this is a gradual reaction to the US course and the overall restructuring of supply chains, as summarized by Discover24.

What are the tactical risks and opportunities for companies in the next 3–6 months?

In the short term, the key effects are in trade, finance, and logistics. Businesses will need more payment options, flexibility in supply chains, and stress tests for sanctions scenarios.

• Trade barriers: under the rhetorical threat of 10% US tariffs on imports from BRICS countries, a wide range of goods are covered – factor in tariff buffers and operational relocation scenarios, as reported by RIA Regnum.
• Finance and settlements: the pace of transition to alternative currencies is increasing – expand your pool of correspondent banks and payment instruments in national currencies, citing the trend that was noted by BELTA.
• Defense-industrial window: Lithuania's purchase of Brazilian Embraer C-390 aircraft shows that even NATO countries are making deals with manufacturers from BRICS – this is a signal to activate export lines and cooperation in aircraft manufacturing and MRO, as noted by Sputnik Lithuania.
• Energy and logistics: the strengthening of the KSA-China route through Pakistan's Gwadar increases the strategic importance of the CPEC; check insurance and alternatives in the Middle East.
• Political capital: presence at BRICS/SCO platforms and related forums is becoming a factor for access to projects and financing – plan delegations and proposals localized to host priorities.

Conclusion: The global order is shifting from "universal rules" to flexible configurations of interests. For BRICS+ companies, this presents a window of opportunity amidst risks: those who faster diversify their settlements, channels, and partnerships, without waiting for the formalization of the new status quo, will win.