THE NATURAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF BRICS MEMBER COUNTRIES AS THE BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF A COMMON GEOPOLITICAL POLE COUNTERACTING THE WEST

Abstract

The article explores the natural resource potential of the BRICS nations as a factor in the formation of an alternative geopolitical center of power amidst the transformation of the contemporary world order. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the role of energy resources and critical minerals in ensuring economic development and strengthening the geopolitical influence of the BRICS states. Special attention is paid to the association’s ability to transform its resource potential into an effective instrument of geopolitical confrontation with the West under current crisis conditions, including the conflict surrounding Iran.
As a result of the study, it was established that the concentration of significant reserves of energy resources and critical minerals in BRICS countries creates objective prerequisites for strengthening their geopolitical influence through the control of global supply chains and the creation of new economic dependencies in world markets. It was found that the natural resource potential of the BRICS states is an important prerequisite for the formation of a multipolar model of world order. The study substantiates that the internal heterogeneity of the association, differences in the foreign policy orientations of member states, and the lack of a coordinated geostratic policy significantly limit the possibilities of transforming BRICS into a consolidated geopolitical bloc. It was determined that the effectiveness of using resource potential as a political influence tool directly depends on the level of strategic coordination among member states. The main factors contributing to or hindering the conversion of natural resources into an instrument of geopolitical influence in conditions of global instability are outlined. Approaches to assessing the BRICS resource potential in the context of modern competition with West are summarized, demonstrating the interconnectedness between resource security, economic self-sufficiency, and the association’s geopolitical ambitions.