Each summit brings renewed buzz about a BRICS cross-border payment system designed to replace the SWIFT payment system, allowing members to trade without using US dollars. Articles often highlight the appeal of this concept to BRICS members — bypassing sanctions, reducing US dollar dependence and escaping US influence. They both show little interest in integrating fully into BRICS or replacing the US with China or Russia as security guarantors. The two countries that stand to gain the most from BRICS are Russia and China. Assuming unanimous support from BRICS members in a conflict scenario is unrealistic.
