BRICS NEWS - The African Mirror

Dec

04

2025

As Trump abandons the rulebook on trade, does free trade have a future elsewhere?

BRICS NEWS

THE global trading system that promoted free trade and underpinned global prosperity for 80 years now stands at a crossroads. Recent trade policy developments have introduced unprecedented levels of uncertainty – not least, the upheaval caused by United States President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff regime. This is presenting some fundamental changes to the way nations interact economically and politically. The free trade ideal Free trade envisions the movement of goods and services across borders with minimal restrictions. That’s in contrast to protectionist policies such as tariffs or import quotas. However, free trade has never existed in pure form. The rules-based…

Jan

17

2026

By The African Mirror

Defence minister orders inquiry after Iranian warships defy presidential instructions

BRICS NEWS

SOUTH Africa’s Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has appointed a board of inquiry to investigate whether the South African National Defence Force ignored direct orders from President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding Iranian participation in naval exercises off Cape Town's False Bay, triggering a political scandal that has drawn sharp international criticism. The inquiry, which has been given seven days after the exercises conclude to report its findings, will examine allegations that the SANDF proceeded with Iran's involvement in the sea phase of joint naval drills despite presidential instructions to exclude the Islamic Republic from active participation. The controversy centres on the presence…

Jan

12

2026

By STAFF REPORTER

BRICS: SANDF leaders inspect naval forces ahead of multinational maritime exercise

BRICS NEWS

SENIOR South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officials have conducted pre-deployment inspections of naval vessels in Simon's Town, as preparations intensified for the sea phase of Exercise WILL FOR PEACE 2026, a multinational maritime training operation involving forces from South Africa, China, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran. General Rudzani Maphwanya, Chief of the SANDF, accompanied by Major General Godfrey Thulare, General Officer Commanding of Joint Operations Headquarters, visited crews aboard vessels docked and anchored in the naval port. The officials received operational briefings covering ship readiness, capabilities, and preparations for upcoming maritime manoeuvres. The inspections follow similar visits…

Dec

23

2025

By SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Russia-China trade reaches $250 billion as strategic partnership deepens

BRICS NEWS

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin confirmed that bilateral trade between Russia and China has reached approximately $250 billion, positioning Russia as China's leading European partner at the country level, during his annual press conference and Direct Line event at Gostiny Dvor. Speaking to questions from Liu Kai of China's Xinhua News Agency, a TV BRICS partner outlet, Putin emphasised the comprehensive nature of the bilateral relationship, which spans high-tech manufacturing, science, education, and space exploration sectors. "At the country level of cooperation between Russia and China, Russia ranks first among European countries," Putin stated. He characterised the trade volume as "an…

Dec

03

2025

By OWN CORRESPONDENT

Putin arrives in India as BRICS allies test unity against Trump’s trade war

BRICS NEWS

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin is due to land in India on Thursday for high-stakes talks that will test whether the world's most powerful non-Western alliance can withstand mounting American economic pressure. The two-day summit between Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi comes as both BRICS nations face a critical choice: defy U.S. President Donald Trump's punitive tariffs or buckle under Washington's campaign to isolate Moscow and discipline New Delhi. The outcome will signal whether the bloc of major emerging economies can forge an independent path or remain vulnerable to American coercion. Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in…

Dec

01

2025

By WEI LI, KATHLEEN WALSH, and LUKE DEER

China reportedly wants to do more deals in its own currency. Australia’s banks aren’t ready

BRICS NEWS

IN October, media reports suggested mining giant BHP had accepted a deal to settle about a third of its spot iron ore sales to Chinese customers in China’s own currency, the renminbi (RMB), rather than US dollars. Those reports still haven’t been officially confirmed, amid ongoing closed-door negotiations between the mining company and China’s state-owned iron ore buyer, China Mineral Resources Group (CMRG). But headlines quickly jumped to the spectre of “de-dollarisation” and geopolitical turning points. The reality is less dramatic, but in some ways, more important for Australia. Changing the invoicing currency doesn’t change how much iron ore China…

Nov

26

2025

By BRICS CORRESPONDENT

NDB energy investments add 1,600 MW to South Africa’s grid, cut emissions by 7.2 million tonnes annually

BRICS NEWS

THE New Development Bank has invested nearly $1 billion in South Africa's energy sector since 2016, significantly bolstering the country's renewable capacity as it transitions away from fossil fuel dependency, according to an independent evaluation released Thursday. The multilateral lender has financed $972.8 million in energy projects that added approximately 1,600 megawatts of installed capacity and 7,500 gigawatt-hours of annual electricity supply to South Africa's constrained grid, the bank's Independent Evaluation Office reported. The investments have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 7.2 million tonnes per year — nearly 12% of the reduction South Africa needs to meet its Nationally…

Nov

25

2025

By ARNO J. VAN NIEKERK

Trade is shaping new global power relations: what this means for Africa

BRICS NEWS

OVER the past two decades, economic strength, trade flows, technological leadership and even consumer demand have been moving steadily from west to east. This transformation is redrawing economic maps. It is also raising urgent questions about co-operation, competition and inclusion in a multipolar world. Lecturer in economics and finance Arno van Niekerk answers questions about these issues, which he explores in a new book, West to East: A New Global Economy in the Making? What indicates a shift from west to east? BRICS countries, largely driven by China and India, overtook the G7 countries in their share of global GDP…

Nov

25

2025

By JAMES BOAFO; ROCHELLE SPENCER, and SENYO DOTSEY

China and the US are in a race for critical minerals. African countries need to make the rules

BRICS NEWS

CRITICAL minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, rare earth elements, and platinum group metals are essential for modern technologies. They are key to industries ranging from electronics and telecommunications to renewable energy, defence, and aerospace systems. The global demand for these minerals has been growing, as has the competition for them. The supply and production of these minerals are largely concentrated in the global South. Most of the world’s cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It produces almost three-quarters of the global cobalt output. Australia produces nearly half of the world’s lithium. Chile accounts for…

Nov

25

2025

By CHRIS OGDEN

As the world order shifts, NZ should ‘spread its diplomatic wings’ and look at joining BRICS

BRICS NEWS

WITH the old global order in a heightened state of flux, driven by US President Donald Trump’s attacks on free trade, international organisations and human rights, small states like New Zealand are having to adjust their foreign policies and hedge their bets. As long-term economic and diplomatic power shifts towards Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific, alternative multilateral groups are now growing in importance. Foremost among these is the grouping known as BRICS, a maturing – and potentially dominant – centre of global economic power. Whether New Zealand would consider joining is still moot, but the forum already includes major nations…