BRICS Rising in the MENA Geoeconomic Power Shifts and Political Realignments

Abstract

The emergence of BRICS as a global economic coalition represents a strategic shift toward a multipolar international arrangement that contests the Western-led global world order. Drawing on economic diplomacy and soft power, this study uses a theoretical framework integrating geopolitical realism and dependency theory to explain international dynamics. BRICS has gained traction in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), particularly after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced their intention to pursue membership. The author examines trade relations, reciprocal foreign direct investment, and financial partnerships between BRICS and MENA countries from 2006 to 2024. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach and empirical data on cross border capital flows and joint financing mechanisms, this study evaluates how coordinated investment initiatives, shared financial instruments, and institutional linkages have influenced regional development and the global economy. The author also addresses challenges faced by MENA states following President Trump's inauguration, highlighting their need to balance Western influence with emerging economic poles like BRICS. Findings suggest that - even before formal accession - BRICS catalyzed economic diversification and geopolitical realignment among MENA nations by opening new channels for trade and investment, strengthening financial partnerships, and supporting efforts to reconcile strategic autonomy with deeper integration into multipolar structures.