As BRICS explores new opportunities for growth and influence, Russia’s ambitious vision for this alliance of emerging economies reveals a carefully crafted three-pronged strategy. Moscow's push to enlarge the bloc goes far beyond mere economic cooperation, representing instead a comprehensive plan to reshape the global order in the face of Western isolation.

First and foremost, Russia sees BRICS expansion as its economic lifeline. In the face of unprecedented Western sanctions, Moscow is actively transforming BRICS into a parallel economic ecosystem. The bloc, already representing over 40% of the global population and nearly a quarter of worldwide gross domestic product (GDP), offers Russia crucial alternatives for international trade and finance. The development of the BRICS New Development Bank, combined with growing efforts to create alternative payment systems, provides Russia with vital tools to circumvent Western financial restrictions. The potential inclusion of a strategically important economy like Türkiye would significantly bolster this economic shield, extending BRICS' influence and creating a more robust market largely insulated from Western pressure.

Secondly, BRICS serves as Russia's platform for diplomatic resurgence. Moscow's isolation from Western diplomatic circles has only intensified its efforts to position BRICS as a legitimate alternative to Western-dominated international forums. By championing the inclusion of regional powers across the Global South, Russia aims to transform BRICS from an economic partnership into a more formal alliance capable of challenging existing Western-dominated governance structures. Although this goal is aspirational, the outcomes can sometimes differ from what was anticipated. The recent BRICS meeting, for example, was a discomfiture for Putin, as several world leaders, including Xi Jinping, advised against escalating the conflict in Ukraine. Both the Brazilian and Indian leaders echoed these calls for peace, highlighting a growing international consensus on the need for de-escalation.

The potential inclusion of Türkiye represents undoubtedly an exciting addition from the Kremlin’s vantage point. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Türkiye's strategic importance cannot be overstated. It would bring BRICS closer to Europe while enhancing its influence in the Middle East. Moreover, as a G-20 economy, Türkiye's infrastructure projects, energy pipelines and expanding industries would provide valuable economic opportunities for BRICS members. Furthermore, Türkiye's potential membership would extend BRICS' influence over key energy corridors, further reducing Western control over global energy markets.

But the potential membership of Türkiye, a NATO member, on the other hand, should not be misconstrued as an attempt by Ankara to change alliances. The Turkish leadership has long been on a path of diversification, multiplying memberships in different international organizations to strengthen Ankara’s multi-vector foreign policy. Therefore, the potential BRICS bid is merely a strategic step in that direction and does not aim to serve as an alternative to its partnership with the Western world, despite what some may speculate.

Finally, Russia envisions BRICS as the cornerstone of a new multipolar world order. The push for de-dollarization within BRICS represents more than just a response to sanctions – it is part of a broader strategy to fundamentally alter the global financial system. By promoting alternative currency arrangements and challenging dollar hegemony, Russia aims to reduce the West's ability to exert financial pressure globally. This vision extends beyond immediate economic benefits, seeking to create a new framework for international relations where power is more evenly distributed among regional centers of influence.

However, significant challenges stand in the way of Russia's strategy. Other BRICS members, particularly China and India, maintain complex relationships with the West that they're unlikely to jeopardize. Russia must navigate a complex web of relationships within the bloc, especially given that interests sometimes diverge in Eurasia. Expanding BRICS to include countries like Türkiye and Iran could exacerbate these tensions, given their historical rivalries. Russia must manage these dynamics carefully to avoid undermining the bloc's unity.

The economic fundamentals of an expanded BRICS also present hurdles. The member states' diverse economic structures and sometimes competing interests could complicate efforts to create unified financial mechanisms or coordinated policies. The proposed BRICS currency, for instance, faces substantial technical and political obstacles.

Russia's strategic vision for BRICS has yielded important results, particularly as the bloc attracts major economies from the Global South, demonstrating its growing relevance as an alternative forum for international cooperation. For Türkiye, joining BRICS presents both opportunities and challenges: while it could unlock new economic avenues, it requires careful navigation of existing alliances, particularly with NATO. Even if Russia's more ambitious goals for BRICS remain partially unrealized, an expanded bloc would provide Moscow with valuable diplomatic and economic alternatives in its ongoing confrontation with the West. As a nation that has historically bridged East and West, Türkiye's potential accession could add some more leverage to its diplomatic arsenal while providing crucial economic alternatives during periods of Western market volatility.

As the global order continues to evolve, Russia's vision for an expanded BRICS merits serious attention. While the bloc may not achieve all of Moscow's ambitious goals, and the latter could even backfire sometimes, its growing influence suggests that the future of global governance will be increasingly shaped by new configurations of emerging powers seeking their path to development and cooperation. In this evolving landscape, one thing is sure: the implications of BRICS' expansion will reverberate far beyond its member states, shaping the future of global governance in ways we are only beginning to understand.