Oil: The BRICS Expansion’s Secret Motive
Commentary
Much of the commentary on the motives behind the expansion of the BRICS trading alliance—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa—announced last month has been centered on the anti-American bias of the coalition. Specifically, that behind the smiley-faced façade of an ostensible economic cooperation community lies a deep-seated opposition to the U.S.-dominated global financial system, and the weaponization of economic sanctions against any nation that opposes the U.S. led world order. De-dollarization—i.e., the imminent demise of the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency—has become an increasingly common topic of discussion.
All of that may certainly be true over the long run. But there is another nearer term and highly pragmatic motivation for the original members, especially for China—the dominant, first among equals in the group—to expand the club in the way they are—and that motivation is oil.
For background, the original BRICS community was formed in 2010 with five member nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In recent years, some 40 nations have expressed interest in joining the group, with some making formal application. In August, at the 2023 Annual BRICS Summit, six countries were approved to officially join BRICS in 2024: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The addition of these six nations did little to augment either BRICS’s economic might, share of global trade, or even its portion of the world’s population. The original BRICS constitute nearly a quarter of the world’s GDP (gross domestic product), with China alone comprising 18.4 percent. The six new countries will add a mere 3 percent to BRICS+ share of global GDP. Similarly, China represents 14.4 percent of global trade, with the other four original members adding another 4.4 percent. The new members will contribute just under 5 percent. The original BRICS comprise over 38 percent of the world’s population, with the new members contributing an additional 5 percent.
The real difference is in oil, the lifeblood of the modern economy. Today, the BRICS nations represent 17.1 percent of global crude oil production. With the addition of the new members, especially Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE, BRICS+ will control 43.4 percent of the world’s supply of oil.
For China, which has only 4.4 percent of global crude oil production, this is an enormous boon. The alliance, and its most-favored nations trading provisions, represents a substantial step toward ensuring the large and growing nation’s energy security and economic strength, thereby preserving the political stability of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Over the past decade, China has built the world’s second-largest crude oil refining capacity (only the United States has more), but without access to crude from the rest of the world, it will do them little good.
The lessons of history have not been lost on the CCP. In particular, the CCP is well aware of how during the 1930s the United States and its Western allies cut off Imperial Japan, an island nation completely devoid of petroleum and other natural resources, from access to their sources of industrial supply. The trade embargo and other sanctions imposed by the United States left Japan vulnerable and isolated, and led to the ascension of radical nationalists and an expansionist military to dominate the politic power of the era. The result was a war that Japan was destined to lose—for want of resources. Watching the United States. impose sanctions on other energy-producing nations such as Iran, Russia, and Venezuela has only affirmed China’s suspicions and strengthened its resolve.
While other nations such as India, Russia, and South Africa may bristle at China’s dominant hand within BRICS+, the reality is that China is setting the tune, and they are forced to hum along.
For Saudi Arabia, the alignment with China and the other BRICS members is similarly pragmatic. Saudi Arabia, which produces 13 percent of the world’s oil, is highly dependent on crude exports as its most important revenue source. Saudi Arabia’s long-standing relationship with the United States has been under increasing strain in recent years. The United States, along with the nations of the European Union, have gone out of their way to tell the world that they want to eliminate dependence on fossil fuels, and oil in particular, within a decade. Being no fools, the Saudis have wisely determined that they will focus their attention on those client nations such as China and India who have made clear they have no intention of reducing their reliance on oil as the driver of their economies. To this end, the Saudis are willing to get into bed with Iran, their historical enemy and regional competitor, under the rubric of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
While the United States has abundant crude oil production capacity, as well as refining, the nations of Europe and the West are now increasingly at risk. This could eventually lead to geopolitical instability that should concern us all.
How does expanding the BRICS alliance to include major oil-producing nations strengthen China’s energy security?
Its decision to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941. China, with its growing economy and increasing energy needs, cannot afford to be in a similar position.
By expanding the BRICS alliance to include major oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the UAE, China ensures a steady supply of oil for its booming economy. This move not only strengthens China’s energy security but also enhances its economic and political position on the global stage.
Moreover, the inclusion of these oil-rich nations in the alliance gives them a platform to assert their influence and challenge the dominance of the U.S.-led world order. Many of these countries have been subject to economic sanctions and restrictions imposed by the U.S., which has harmed their economies and limited their options. By aligning with BRICS, they gain collective bargaining power and create a counterforce to the U.S.’s economic dominance.
The expansion of BRICS is a strategic move with significant implications for the global order. It represents a shift in power dynamics and challenges the existing financial system. While the anti-American sentiment may be an underlying factor, the immediate motivation for expanding the alliance lies in securing energy resources.
As the world’s largest consumer of oil, China is acutely aware of the importance of energy security and the potential consequences of being reliant on
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