Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of Russia’s State Duma, highlighted on Monday that BRICS is gaining recognition as a key player in establishing a multipolar world. In a Telegram message, Volodin noted that BRICS has become a major economic force, with countries like Serbia expressing interest in joining as an alternative to the European Union.

He pointed out that more nations view BRICS as a “guarantor of a multipolar world,” free from “blackmail” and interference in their internal affairs, unlike what they face in partnerships with the EU. He underscored a significant geopolitical shift, stating:

Washington and Brussels are losing their hegemony, as nations are opting for equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation in the interests of their people, rather than serving the U.S. and its allies.

The State Duma speaker contended that the policies pursued by Washington and Brussels have backfired, leading countries toward BRICS, whose combined economies now outpace those of the G7. “Such policies from Washington and Brussels, as we can see, have had the opposite effect. The economies of BRICS countries are now much larger than those of the G7,” he claimed.

Referring to Serbia’s interest to join the BRICS economic bloc as an alternative to the EU, “which it no longer considers a reliable partner,” he stressed: “More and more countries realize that BRICS is a prospective solution and a guarantor of a multipolar world.” Volodin opined:

BRICS participants and observers are not subjected to blackmail, absurd conditions for cooperation, or interference in their sovereign affairs, unlike the EU.

As the EU faces economic challenges, particularly in several member states, Volodin suggested that BRICS offers a future of global cooperation based on equal partnerships. “The EU is stagnating, with GDP shrinking in Germany, Austria, Finland, and Estonia. Their industries are suffering significant losses,” he noted. Russia, which took over the BRICS presidency in January, will host a summit in Kazan on Oct. 22-24, with representatives from over 30 countries expected to attend.