Russia
Source: mid.ru

On February 25-26, the capital of Brazil hosted this year’s first meeting of BRICS sherpas/sous-sherpas. The Russian delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister and Russian BRICS Sherpa Sergey Ryabkov.

President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received the BRICS delegations and heads of the diplomatic missions of BRICS partner states (Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand and Uzbekistan).

During the meeting, the Brazilian Chairmanship presented the priorities for the current year with a focus on cooperation in healthcare, AI, climate, and finances. The participants also discussed the Group’s institutional development.

They stressed the importance of maintaining continuity in BRICS operations and a commitment to achieving practical results. Specifically, they stated that the Group was ready to continue implementing the initiatives launched by the Russian Chairmanship in 2024.

Representatives of Indonesia attended the event for the first time after their country joined BRICS as full member on January 1, 2025.

Sergey Ryabkov held bilateral contacts with the delegations of Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Iran, South Africa, and the UAE on the sidelines of the meeting.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

As global tensions reshape the semiconductor landscape, China launches an ambitious $47.5 billion initiative to achieve AI chip independence. With the Big Fund 3 leading the charge, Beijing's push for technological self-sufficiency is transforming the global AI chip market. This analysis explores China's strategic moves, challenges, and potential impact on the future of AI semiconductor manufacturing.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to drive technological innovation, the global demand for AI chips is escalating, particularly in industries like healthcare, automotive, and consumer electronics. Amidst growing international competition and restrictions from the US, China is ramping up its domestic chip manufacturing efforts, bolstered by significant investments such as the Big Fund 3. This article explores China's strategic position in the AI chip market, its role in the global race for chip supremacy, and the evolution of its domestic chip manufacturing capabilities in response to international tensions.

In recent years, the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have driven an unprecedented demand for specialised AI chips. These chips, essential for tasks such as data processing, automation, and enhanced decision-making, have become integral across industries including healthcare, automotive, and consumer electronics. As businesses strive to integrate AI into their operations, AI chips are critical to boosting productivity and achieving operational efficiency. The growing reliance on AI technologies, combined with the integration of machine learning and deep learning models, is reshaping industries globally, making AI chips a highly sought-after commodity.

AI Chip Market in China

The AI chip market is witnessing significant growth, with projections for a substantial market expansion. Revenues from AI chips in data centers, from the fourth quarter of 2024, were expected to reach $21 billion, with a growth rate nearing 12%. This surge is largely attributed to the increasing use of generative AI technologies and AI servers by large-scale cloud providers, key players in the cloud computing space. In fact, the AI hardware market is forecast to grow at an impressive annual rate of 40-55%, potentially generating revenues between $780 billion and $990 billion by the end of the decade. The Asia-Pacific region, with China at its core, is poised to be a major player in this market, driving global demand for AI chips.

Amidst the global competition, China has emerged as a key contender in the AI chip race. As tensions with the US have intensified, Beijing has made strategic investments to reduce its reliance on foreign chip technology. A key element of this effort is the launch of Big Fund 3, a massive semiconductor investment initiative. The fund, which has raised 344 billion yuan (approximately $47.5 billion), aims to bolster China’s chip manufacturing capabilities and advance its semiconductor sector. With backing from the Chinese government and state-owned entities, Big Fund 3 is part of a broader strategy to achieve technological self-sufficiency in semiconductor production, a goal underscored by the Made in China 2025 initiative.

Global Competition in semiconductors

The global competition in the chip sector is intensifying, with the US and European Union investing nearly $81 billion to develop next-generation semiconductors. The US, in particular, has taken aggressive steps to curb China's access to advanced chip technology, particularly chips critical for AI training, by imposing restrictions on companies such as Nvidia and ASML. Despite these challenges, China has made strides in its domestic chip manufacturing. Companies like Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp. (SMIC) and Hisilicon, a subsidiary of Huawei, have gained prominence in the global chip market, although they still face significant hurdles in developing cutting-edge technology that competes with their US counterparts.

China’s chip manufacturing landscape is characterised by a mix of state-owned and private sector players. SMIC stands out as China’s largest and most advanced chip manufacturer, capable of producing a variety of chips for different sectors. However, despite the significant investments pouring into the industry, China’s domestic chip sector remains far from self-sufficient. The US-led restrictions on the supply of critical chipmaking equipment and raw materials have hindered China's ability to achieve full independence in chip production. Still, the country has committed substantial resources to chip development, with ongoing investments in less advanced, legacy chips, which are still essential for many applications.

AI Machine Learning

The role of AI and machine learning in the evolution of chip development cannot be understated. As demand for more powerful AI chips continues to rise, manufacturers are exploring ways to integrate advanced machine learning algorithms into the design and production of chips. These chips, designed for tasks such as inference and training, are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The emergence of energy-efficient, high-performance AI chips will be essential for meeting the growing needs of AI-powered industries, especially as China continues to invest in its own domestic chip industry.

Despite the challenges, China’s efforts in AI chip development are expected to play a pivotal role in its technological future. The Big Fund 3, alongside other government-backed initiatives, reflects China’s determination to establish itself as a global leader in semiconductor technology. While full self-sufficiency in chip production remains a distant goal, China’s share of the global chip market is projected to increase as it continues to ramp up investments in both advanced and legacy chip technologies.

The AI chip market is at the heart of the global race for technological dominance, with China positioning itself as a major contender. As AI continues to transform industries worldwide, China’s investment in semiconductor manufacturing and chip development will likely yield significant returns in the coming years, although challenges remain. The ability to create cutting-edge, high-performance chips will be crucial in securing China’s position as a leader in the global AI race.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

Iran’s strategic location makes it a vital hub for global trade corridors, connecting East and West through land, air, and maritime routes. Despite sanctions, its recent BRICS+ membership offers a pathway to economic resilience, enabling infrastructure development, de-dollarized trade, and stronger regional partnerships.

When discussing global trade corridors, Iran rarely takes center stage. Yet, for centuries, it has been a key player in the movement of goods across continents, straddling major land, air, and maritime routes.

As geopolitical dynamics shift and new trade corridors emerge, Iran’s strategic position is becoming increasingly important. It is not just a bridge between East and West but also a crucial node in modern freight, air, and maritime transportation networks. With its recent inclusion in BRICS+, Iran has a unique opportunity to leverage this membership to assert its role in global trade, even in the face of ongoing sanctions.

Geopolitical Advantage and BRICS+ Membership

Iran occupies one of the most strategic locations in the world. Sandwiched between the energy-rich Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, Iran's road and rail networks are integral to many of the region's most ambitious trade initiatives. Its BRICS+ membership provides Iran with a platform to deepen economic ties and bypass Western-led sanctions.

BRICS+ offers Iran access to alternative financial systems, such as the New Development Bank (NDB), the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) and BRICS Pay, which can help fund critical infrastructure projects. The bloc’s focus on de-dollarisation and trade in local currencies reduces Iran’s reliance on the U.S. dollar, mitigating the impact of sanctions. By aligning with BRICS+, Iran strengthens its position as a transit hub and attracts investment from member nations eager to diversify trade routes and reduce dependency on Western-dominated systems.

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)

A prime example of Iran’s strategic importance is its role in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC). This 7,200 km multi-modal network of ship, rail, and road routes connects India and Russia, with Iran playing a pivotal role as the central hub. The INSTC offers a faster and cheaper alternative to the traditional Suez Canal route, cutting cargo travel time by nearly 40%.

Through BRICS+, Iran can further collaborate India and Russia to further develop the INSTC. India’s investment in the Chabahar Port, a vital node in the INSTC, underscores the potential for deeper cooperation. By leveraging BRICS+ partnerships, Iran can modernise its rail and road infrastructure, enhance customs procedures, and streamline cross-border trade, making the INSTC a more attractive option for global shippers.

Expanding Rail Networks and Regional Integration

Iran’s burgeoning rail network is also worthy of attention. The Khaf-Herat railway project linking Iran and Afghanistan is an important milestone, not just for regional integration but also for landlocked Afghanistan’s access to international markets. Similarly, Iran’s rail connections to Turkmenistan and the Caucasus enhance its importance as a transit corridor for goods heading to Europe from Central Asia.

BRICS+ membership provides Iran with opportunities to secure funding and technical expertise for further rail expansion. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aligns closely with Iran’s infrastructure goals, and as a BRICS+ member, Iran can attract more BRI-related investments.

Maritime Trade and the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s location along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman grants it control over one of the most critical maritime chokepoints in the world—the Strait of Hormuz. In 2024 approximately 30% of the world's seaborne-traded crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz every day.

Iran’s maritime trade capabilities extend beyond oil. The Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran, developed with Indian support, is a vital access point to the Indian Ocean. Unlike other regional ports, Chabahar allows India to bypass Pakistan when accessing Central Asian markets. Through BRICS+, Iran can attract investment in its maritime infrastructure, particularly from India and China, both of which have strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region. By expanding its shipping fleet and modernising its ports, Iran can position itself as a key player in global maritime trade, even under sanctions.

Overcoming Sanctions Through BRICS+

Sanctions have undoubtedly hampered Iran’s infrastructure development and international partnerships and the new wave of sanctions issued this February by the Trump administration continues to hamper the nation's progress. Iran’s BRICS+ membership however signals new hope by providing Iran with a pathway to circumvent these challenges. By fostering closer economic ties with BRICS+ nations, Iran can access alternative financial systems, attract foreign investment, and diversify its trade partnerships. The bloc’s emphasis on multilateralism and economic cooperation aligns with Iran’s strategic goals, enabling it to assert its role in global trade despite external pressures.

A Transportation Trifecta with Untapped Potential

Iran's land, air, and maritime corridors collectively form a transportation trifecta that rivals any nation. Whether moving goods through the INSTC, facilitating air traffic between continents, or controlling access to critical waterways, Iran’s significance to global trade is undeniable. With its BRICS+ membership, Iran has a unique opportunity to overcome sanctions and unlock its full potential as a global trade hub.

As the world reconfigures its trade routes in response to global challenges, Iran's strategic position will only grow in importance. By leveraging its BRICS+ membership, Iran can assert its role as an essential player in the future of global commerce, transforming itself from an under utilised power into a cornerstone of the new global trade order. Through enhanced infrastructure, regional integration, and strategic partnerships, Iran is poised to reclaim its historic role as a linchpin of global trade.

South Africa
Source: www.iol.co.za

Forum emerges as a powerful counterforce to Western media dominance, reshaping global narratives and giving voice to the Global South. This analysis explores how this collaborative platform is transforming international media landscapes and challenging traditional information hierarchies.

The media has been used as a tool of geopolitical control for ages, influencing public opinion to support prevailing power structures.

For many years, Western media, which is firmly rooted in ideological prejudices, has served as an extension of Western foreign policy, promoting narratives that support Western political and economic objectives. The Global South has been portrayed in a one-dimensional manner as a result of this hegemony, which has marginalised opposing views and reinforced prejudices. But a tectonic change is being signaled by the formation of BRICS media coalitions, where previously marginalised voices are suddenly questioning the Eurocentric interpretation of world events. A vital alternative are BRICS media sites, which present complex viewpoints on topics such as the Russia-Ukraine war tensions between the United States and China, and the economic sovereignty of the Global South.

The BRICS Media Forum: Structure and Objectives

The goal of the BRICS Media Forum is to create a counter-hegemonic media landscape by bringing together independent journalists, state media agencies, and think institutes. Key players in this effort include China's Xinhua News Agency, Russia's Sputnik, India's ANI, Brazil's Grupo Globo, South Africa's Independent Media and the African News Agency, Indonesia’s ANTARA News, Egypt’s Al-Ahram, UAE’s Al Bayan, Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabiya, Iran’s Press TV and Ethiopia's Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC). Strengthening media cooperation, promoting understanding between parties, promoting narratives associated with BRICS, and assisting with digital transformation are among the forum's main goals. Cross-border cooperation, journalist training initiatives, and content-sharing agreements guarantee that BRICS media outlets continue to be strong and able to fend against Western disinformation efforts.

The BRICS Media Forum in Practice

The BRICS Media Forum's high-level meetings, which took place in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2023, demonstrate its real influence. Declarations highlighting the necessity of media independence from Western ideological frameworks have resulted from these summits. The creation of digital media platforms that contest the Western monopoly on information is among the forum's most important accomplishments. While cooperative investigative journalism projects have shown Western-led media manipulation, content-sharing agreements across BRICS countries have expanded the reach of alternative narratives. The forum's growing power in influencing public opinion outside of the BRICS bloc is demonstrated by its strategic interventions in international issues, such as its reaction to Western reportage on the situation in Ukraine.

BRICS Media in the Era of Digital Transformation

For BRICS media, the digital era offers both possibilities and difficulties. News consumption is changing as a result of algorithmic content distribution, data-driven journalism, and artificial intelligence. By avoiding conventional Western-controlled channels, social media sites like Weibo, Telegram, VKontakte, and WhatsApp are essential for spreading content that is aligned with the BRICS. The fight for digital sovereignty is still an urgent one, nevertheless. Western tech behemoths still control an excessive amount of information, frequently suppressing opposing viewpoints that conflict with their geopolitical objectives. In order to ensure that information autonomy continues to be a key component of their media strategy, the BRICS countries have taken steps to establish autonomous digital infrastructures. Since coordinated fact-checking efforts inside BRICS countries aid in thwarting Western-led smear attempts, combating misinformation and disinformation is also a key component of the forum's objective.

Challenges and Criticisms

The BRICS Media Forum still confronts several obstacles in spite of its achievements. Concerns over how to strike a balance between journalistic independence and state-led narratives have been raised by the BRICS countries' varying degrees of media freedom. Some BRICS countries are accused of controlling media discourse excessively by critics, many of whom are from Western organisations. This criticism, however, fails to acknowledge that the Western media is influenced by corporations and the government and frequently functions as a vehicle for governmental policies. Another issue is that certain BRICS countries are less prepared to lead media innovation than others due to differences in media funding and technology infrastructure. The geopolitical significance of this media conflict are highlighted by Western responses, such as disinformation attempts aimed at undermining BRICS media. Under the pretense of neutrality, Western-funded fact-checking projects usually target BRICS narratives in an effort to undermine opposing views.

The BRICS Media Forum and the New World Order

Beyond its 10 member countries, the BRICS Media Forum is significant because it symbolises the Global South's larger fight against Western hegemony. The forum actively contributes to a redesigned global governance architecture where multipolarity is not only an ideal but a reality by elevating the viewpoints of the Global South. In order to provide a true global counterpoint to Western media imperialism, the forum has already started forming partnerships with media organisations in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. One trend that could further institutionalise media freedom for the Global South is the potential for a BRICS global news network. In addition to demolishing Western myths, such an endeavor would provide emerging economies the autonomy to steer their own narratives without outside interference.

Conclusion

The BRICS Media Forum is a geopolitical effort with the goal of destroying Western information monopolies and advancing a fair and just media environment. It is more than just a media endeavor. The forum is redefining the laws of international journalism via digital innovation, strategic collaboration, and an unshakable dedication to multipolarity. Despite ongoing difficulties, there is no denying the BRICS Media Forum's momentum. The voices of the Global South are increasingly influencing the direction of worldwide media, which is no longer determined by the Global North. The forum's function in upending long-standing power structures and promoting opposing viewpoints will only increase as it develops, guaranteeing that media in the twenty-first century accurately represents the diversity of our society.