Zimbabwe Fast-Tracks BRICS Membership Amid Shifting Global Alliances
Zimbabwe is moving to fast-track its bid to join the BRICS bloc as global geopolitical tensions rise and U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump continue to reshape international alliances.
With new tariffs affecting exports and travel restrictions straining diplomatic relations, Harare is increasingly looking beyond traditional Western partners. Authorities see BRICS…comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and new member states…as a strategic platform for deeper global integration, expanded trade, increased investment, and reduced reliance on Western financial systems.
Zimbabwean officials argue that closer ties with BRICS could open access to alternative development financing, infrastructure investment, and new markets, particularly in Asia and the Global South. The bloc’s emphasis on multipolar cooperation and the use of non-Western financial mechanisms is viewed as especially attractive amid growing uncertainty around U.S. and EU trade policies.
Analysts note that Zimbabwe’s push reflects a broader trend across Africa and the developing world, where countries are reassessing long-standing economic relationships in response to sanctions, protectionism, and shifting power dynamics.
For Harare, BRICS membership is seen not only as an economic opportunity, but also as a political signal of strategic independence.
However, challenges remain. Full integration into BRICS would require economic reforms, policy alignment, and diplomatic consensus among existing members. Critics also warn that expectations should be managed, as BRICS is not a substitute for domestic economic stability and governance reforms.
As global power balances continue to shift, Zimbabwe’s BRICS ambitions highlight a growing desire among developing nations to diversify partnerships and navigate a world no longer dominated by a single economic centre.