At the BRICS-17 Summit, Belarus reaffirmed its commitment to building a multipolar global order, emphasizing the importance of digital sovereignty and global fairness. In his address, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov advocated a sustainable, independent, and technologically advanced world system, calling BRICS a pivotal strategic platform for shaping the future global landscape.
Highlighting the evolving dynamics of global cooperation, Minister Ryzhenkov described BRICS as more than just a coalition. He underscored the group’s potential as a strategic framework capable of redefining international relations, particularly in the context of declining unipolar hegemony. According to Ryzhenkov, today’s changing global order urgently demands greater equality, mutual respect, and shared decision-making among nations.
Providing insight into Belarus’s strategic outlook, Minister Ryzhenkov outlined three core pillars of his country’s vision. The first priority centers on financial independence, with Belarus strongly endorsing BRICS’s initiatives to foster trade in national currencies. He advocated the creation of alternative payment mechanisms and infrastructure designed to reduce countries’ dependence on traditional global financial centers.
The second pillar outlined by Belarus was firm resistance to technological monopolies and practices labelled by Ryzhenkov as “digital colonialism.” Emphasizing each nation’s intrinsic right to shape its digital future, he called for collaborative global efforts promoting equitable access to technology and protecting digital sovereignty.
Thirdly, Minister Ryzhenkov proposed concrete initiatives to boost financial and logistical sovereignty. These include integrating central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) for enhanced financial sovereignty, establishing secure international channels for cross-border financial messaging, and leveraging emerging technologies such as blockchain, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) to develop robust, future-oriented Eurasian logistical networks.
In a tangible demonstration of commitment, Belarus formally submitted an application to join the BRICS New Development Bank. Through membership, Belarus aims to actively participate in financing regional infrastructure projects and collaborative development initiatives.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Ryzhenkov reiterated Belarus’s readiness to contribute to a balanced, inclusive, and technologically empowered global governance model, one resilient against economic and digital dominance, and committed to sustainable development for all nations.
