“From a Four-Nation Dialogue to a Global Alternative”: GlobUs Expert Discusses the Transformation of BRICS at a St. Petersburg Forum

The BRICS+ Business Forum took place in St. Petersburg as part of the milestone “Russian Industrialist” Forum. Rishabh Sethi — an analyst specializing in international relations, BRICS, and public diplomacy, and a member of GlobUs — spoke at a strategic session dedicated to tourism. He provided an overview of the alliance’s evolution and the role of public diplomacy in building a multipolar world.

Mr. Sethi noted that BRICS has come a long way, evolving from a dialogue between four nations to an expanded group that now includes South Africa and, subsequently, other new partners. At the same time, according to him, a key milestone in institutional maturity was the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB).

“The NDB was created to serve as a financial alternative to Western-dominated institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. Meanwhile, the BRICS+ format, which emerged in 2017, provided a mechanism for integrating countries from the Global South,” he emphasized.

Mr. Sethi also drew attention to the success of the 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi in September 2026 under India’s chairmanship. He described the event as an example of decentralized public diplomacy.

“India hosted over 350 meetings and sector-specific events across 25 to 30 cities nationwide. This extended international cooperation well beyond the capital cities and set a new standard for inclusive, multilateral dialogue,” the analyst observed.

In conclusion, Mr. Sethi highlighted the scale of the grouping: BRICS+ represents approximately 50–55% of the global population and about 30% of the Earth’s landmass, whereas G7 nations account for only about 10% of the world’s population. In his view, this creates a vast foundation for cross-border cooperation.

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