Former Pentagon official describes BRICS as a response to the 'odious' Western system
Michael Maloof has predicted that Washington's "weaponization" of the dollar will prompt more countries to explore the possibility of joining the BRICS group. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
This week’s BRICS summit taking place in Kazan, Russia, is expected to attract more countries to the expanding coalition, according to former Pentagon analyst Michael Maloof, who spoke with ex-British MP George Galloway during a recent episode of Mother of All Talk Shows.
Maloof commended Russian President Vladimir Putin for acknowledging the increasing desire among nations for a more inclusive economic framework, seeking to escape what he described as the "odious sanctions of the West and the financial system that has really encumbered them."
He noted, "The United States is in charge of the ‘Rules Based Order’, which means that they can not only make the rules, but break them at will, and we’ve seen this constantly in its own decision making. And the world is saying ‘we’ve seen enough of this crap.’"
Maloof further asserted, "We’re going to be seeing challenges to the hegemony of the dollar, [and] the weaponization of the dollar and the Western system, and we’re already seeing mechanisms that will be offered at this summit this week."
Following its exclusion from the Western financial system due to the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Russia has intensified its efforts to conduct foreign trade using rubles and other currencies. Putin clarified at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok last month, “We did not refuse to settle transactions in dollars. Rather, we were refused, and were simply forced to look for other options.”
According to Putin, Russia and its BRICS partners now utilize national currencies in 65% of their mutual trade transactions. Reports suggest that Russia intends to propose a new blockchain-based international financial system at this summit. Though Moscow has not officially commented on this development, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov previously stated that Russia and other BRICS nations are collaborating on a new cross-border payment infrastructure that operates independently of the Western SWIFT system.
Maloof highlighted that the U.S. and its allies' approach to weaponizing the dollar and excluding rival powers from the Western financial network has prompted even traditionally allied nations like Brazil, India, and the UAE to explore alternative options. He commented that the sanctions have led to an increasingly close partnership between Russia and China, demonstrating that “you don’t see strategic thinking coming out of the United States anymore.”
BRICS, initially established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, saw South Africa join the group in 2011. In January 2024, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates were added to its ranks, while Saudi Arabia is still in the process of ratifying its membership after receiving an invitation.
Currently, Russia holds the presidency of the bloc, with over 30 countries, including NATO member Türkiye, expressing interest in joining.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
Maloof commended Russian President Vladimir Putin for acknowledging the increasing desire among nations for a more inclusive economic framework, seeking to escape what he described as the "odious sanctions of the West and the financial system that has really encumbered them."
He noted, "The United States is in charge of the ‘Rules Based Order’, which means that they can not only make the rules, but break them at will, and we’ve seen this constantly in its own decision making. And the world is saying ‘we’ve seen enough of this crap.’"
Maloof further asserted, "We’re going to be seeing challenges to the hegemony of the dollar, [and] the weaponization of the dollar and the Western system, and we’re already seeing mechanisms that will be offered at this summit this week."
Following its exclusion from the Western financial system due to the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Russia has intensified its efforts to conduct foreign trade using rubles and other currencies. Putin clarified at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok last month, “We did not refuse to settle transactions in dollars. Rather, we were refused, and were simply forced to look for other options.”
According to Putin, Russia and its BRICS partners now utilize national currencies in 65% of their mutual trade transactions. Reports suggest that Russia intends to propose a new blockchain-based international financial system at this summit. Though Moscow has not officially commented on this development, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov previously stated that Russia and other BRICS nations are collaborating on a new cross-border payment infrastructure that operates independently of the Western SWIFT system.
Maloof highlighted that the U.S. and its allies' approach to weaponizing the dollar and excluding rival powers from the Western financial network has prompted even traditionally allied nations like Brazil, India, and the UAE to explore alternative options. He commented that the sanctions have led to an increasingly close partnership between Russia and China, demonstrating that “you don’t see strategic thinking coming out of the United States anymore.”
BRICS, initially established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, saw South Africa join the group in 2011. In January 2024, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates were added to its ranks, while Saudi Arabia is still in the process of ratifying its membership after receiving an invitation.
Currently, Russia holds the presidency of the bloc, with over 30 countries, including NATO member Türkiye, expressing interest in joining.
Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News
