BRICS

Last updated: May 29, 2026

BRICS is a bloc of major emerging economies — originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — that has expanded in recent years to include additional members and has increasingly positioned itself as an alternative to Western-dominated multilateral institutions. Its summits, trade frameworks, and proposals for a non-dollar settlement currency have made it a focal point of discussion among states seeking to hedge against Western economic and political pressure.

For Armenia, BRICS has emerged as a topic of debate in the context of the country’s foreign policy realignment. Some Armenian political forces argue that BRICS membership or association could provide economic alternatives to both Russian dependency and the conditions attached to Western integration. Others argue that associating with a Russia- and China-led bloc would undermine Armenia’s aspirations for EU alignment and deepen its entanglement with a sanctions-ridden Russian economy.

Groong covers BRICS in the context of Armenian foreign policy choices, the competing global connectivity frameworks being promoted in the South Caucasus , and the broader question of whether Armenia can pursue meaningful economic diversification outside the Western orbit.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with BRICS.

Topics:

  • Armenia’s election rules
  • Parties and alliances competing
  • MPG polling and thresholds
  • Opposition challenges and turnout
  • Geopolitical positions heatmap

Episode 548 | Recorded: May 22, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #ArmenianPolitics #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #HayastanDashinq

Topics:

  • Armenia’s election rules
  • Parties and alliances competing
  • MPG polling and thresholds
  • Opposition challenges and turnout
  • Geopolitical positions heatmap

Episode 548 | Recorded: May 22, 2026

#Armenia #ArmenianElections #ArmenianPolitics #Artsakh #SouthCaucasus #CivilContract #StrongArmenia #HayastanDashinq

This Conversations on Groong episode provides a primer on Armenia’s June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections, reviewing the 17 parties and 2 alliances registered to compete. The discussion explains the election rules, thresholds, coalition process, and the “stable majority” mechanism, while stressing the uneven political environment facing opposition forces. The episode then walks through each participant, including Civil Contract, Strong Armenia, Armenia Alliance, Prosperous Armenia, Wings of Unity, Bright Armenia, ANC, Bever, Republic, DOK, Democratic Consolidation, and smaller parties with  Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran war dynamics and Russia’s role
  • Ukraine war and Europe’s militarization
  • Armenia’s pivot and Russia’s response
  • Regional power balance

Episode 534 | Recorded: April 21, 2026

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran war dynamics and Russia’s role
  • Ukraine war and Europe’s militarization
  • Armenia’s pivot and Russia’s response
  • Regional power balance

Episode 534 | Recorded: April 21, 2026

In this episode of the Groong podcast, we speak with Dr. Dmitry Suslov about the shifting geopolitical landscape across the Iran war, the Ukraine conflict, and the South Caucasus. We examine the fragile state of the Iran war and its impact on global trade and regional escalation, Russia’s strategic positioning, and the potential for a broader conflict involving Azerbaijan and Turkey. The discussion then turns to the Ukraine war, focusing on attrition, Europe’s growing militarization, and the prospects for a long-term Russia–Europe confrontation. Finally, we explore Russia’s policy in the South  Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • ThermoEconomics and global power
  • Iran war and energy
  • De-dollarization and sovereignty
  • Armenia: AI data centers, SMRs, and imperialism

Episode 533 | Recorded: April 21, 2026

Guest:

Topics:

  • ThermoEconomics and global power
  • Iran war and energy
  • De-dollarization and sovereignty
  • Armenia: AI data centers, SMRs, and imperialism

Episode 533 | Recorded: April 21, 2026

Prof. Warwick Powell discusses his thermoeconomic view of world politics, where energy, money, and information form a single system. We connect the war on Iran to declining U.S. energy efficiency, the limits of airpower, de-dollarization, and the rise of alternative financial and information architectures. We also bring the conversation back to Armenia, asking what TRIPP, SMRs, and large AI data centers could mean for a small state trying to protect its energy and information sovereignty. We close by reflecting on considerations for Armenia in implementing centralized data infrastructure, more  Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
  • Armenia-Russia Relations
  • Parliamentary Elections in Armenia

Episode 529 | Recorded on April 3, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis #ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Iran War and Its Global Impacts
  • Armenia-Russia Relations
  • Parliamentary Elections in Armenia

Episode 529 | Recorded on April 3, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #IsraelIranConflict #IsraelConflict #Armenia #MiddleEastCrisis #ArmeniaElections #PietroShakarian #TRIPP

Dr. Pietro Shakarian joined us to discuss the state of the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, the shrinking chances for a diplomatic off-ramp, and how the conflict is shifting wider Eurasian politics. The conversation then turned to Armenia, including the likely freezing of TRIPP amid the Iran war, Pashinyan’s contentious visit to Moscow, and the deeper low point in Armenia-Russia relations. The final section focused on Armenia’s June parliamentary elections, public sentiment toward Pashinyan, fears over election integrity, and the evolving opposition landscape.

Guest:

Topics:

  • US and Israel launch war against Iran
  • Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties
  • Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands
  • Armenia leadership silent
  • Sumgait remembered

Episode 520 | Recorded: March 3, 2026

#IranWar #EpicFury #MiddleEastWar #ArmeniaForeignPolicy #Sumgait1988 #IranIsraelConflict

Guest:

Topics:

  • US and Israel launch war against Iran
  • Decapitation strikes, mass civilian casualties
  • Iran retaliates region-wide, war expands
  • Armenia leadership silent
  • Sumgait remembered

Episode 520 | Recorded: March 3, 2026

#IranWar #EpicFury #MiddleEastWar #ArmeniaForeignPolicy #Sumgait1988 #IranIsraelConflict

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump 2.0 and the “Donroe Doctrine”
  • Rules-Based Disorder?
  • Iran vs. the “Big, Beautiful Armada”
  • US Cohesion and Midterms
  • JD Vance in the South Caucasus

Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump 2.0 and the “Donroe Doctrine”
  • Rules-Based Disorder?
  • Iran vs. the “Big, Beautiful Armada”
  • US Cohesion and Midterms
  • JD Vance in the South Caucasus

Episode 515 | Recorded: February 6, 2026

Guest:

Topics:

  • Defining the “Canceling Russia” phenomenon
  • The “cancel Russia” lobby
  • Containment shifts to coercive transformation
  • Russian Orthodox Church as battleground
  • Kremlin “towers” and civilizational logic

Episode 514 | Recorded: February 4, 2026

#CancelingRussia #RussianForeignPolicy #UkraineWar #StateCivilization #TowersOfTheKremlin #RussianOrthodoxChurch

Guest:

Topics:

  • Defining the “Canceling Russia” phenomenon
  • The “cancel Russia” lobby
  • Containment shifts to coercive transformation
  • Russian Orthodox Church as battleground
  • Kremlin “towers” and civilizational logic

Episode 514 | Recorded: February 4, 2026

#CancelingRussia #RussianForeignPolicy #UkraineWar #StateCivilization #TowersOfTheKremlin #RussianOrthodoxChurch

Topics:

  • Iran Conflict
  • Varchaband
  • War on Armenian Church
  • Mehmet Oz vs Armenian Americans
  • Narek Karapetyan and Strong Armenia
  • A Big Beautiful Noragyugh

Episode 512 | Recorded: February 2, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #TrumpArmada #ArmenianChurch #Pashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora

Topics:

  • Iran Conflict
  • Varchaband
  • War on Armenian Church
  • Mehmet Oz vs Armenian Americans
  • Narek Karapetyan and Strong Armenia
  • A Big Beautiful Noragyugh

Episode 512 | Recorded: February 2, 2026

#IranIsraelWar #TrumpArmada #ArmenianChurch #Pashinyan #ArmenianDiaspora

Guest:

Topics:

  • Unrest in Iran
  • Russia-Iran Partnership
  • Solovyov’s Statements
  • Trump’s “TRIPP Wire” in the Caucasus
  • Release of Armenian hostages

Episode 506 | Recorded on January 14, 2026

Guest:

Topics:

  • Unrest in Iran
  • Russia-Iran Partnership
  • Solovyov’s Statements
  • Trump’s “TRIPP Wire” in the Caucasus
  • Release of Armenian hostages

Episode 506 | Recorded on January 14, 2026

Guest:

Topics:

  • Venezuela
  • Ukraine War
  • Russia-Iran Relations
  • TRIPP and Russian-Armenian Relations

Episode 502 | Recorded: January 8, 2026

#FyodorLukyanov #RussiaGeopolitics #UkraineWar #IranIsrael #VenezuelaCrisis #TRIPP

Guest:

Topics:

  • Venezuela
  • Ukraine War
  • Russia-Iran Relations
  • TRIPP and Russian-Armenian Relations

Episode 502 | Recorded: January 8, 2026

#FyodorLukyanov #RussiaGeopolitics #UkraineWar #IranIsrael #VenezuelaCrisis #TRIPP

Fyodor Lukyanov joins Groong to discuss how Moscow reads a fast-shifting global landscape, from the U.S. raid in Venezuela and maritime seizures at sea, to Trump’s Greenland rhetoric, the stalled endgame in Ukraine, the likelihood of a renewed Israel-Iran war, and how TRIPP and “unblocking” disputes in Armenia’s south fit into Russia’s regional priorities.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Developments in Venezuela
  • Attacks on Armenian Church Continue
  • New MPG Poll Results

Episode 501 | Recorded: January 6, 2026

#VenezuelaCrisis #ArmenianChurch #MPGPoll #ArmeniaEconomy #Geopolitics

Guest:

Topics:

  • Developments in Venezuela
  • Attacks on Armenian Church Continue
  • New MPG Poll Results

Episode 501 | Recorded: January 6, 2026

#VenezuelaCrisis #ArmenianChurch #MPGPoll #ArmeniaEconomy #Geopolitics

Guest:

Topics:

  • SCO Summit in Tianjin, China
  • China-India Thaw
  • Power of Siberia Gas Pipeline
  • What’s in it for Armenia?

Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • SCO Summit in Tianjin, China
  • China-India Thaw
  • Power of Siberia Gas Pipeline
  • What’s in it for Armenia?

Episode 469 | Recorded: September 4, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Geopolitics
  • #Gaza, #Iran, #Russia, #Ukraine
  • #DonaldTrump, #Pashinyan, #Aliyev meet in the #WhiteHouse

Episode 460 | Recorded: August 11, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Geopolitics
  • #Gaza, #Iran, #Russia, #Ukraine
  • #DonaldTrump, #Pashinyan, #Aliyev meet in the #WhiteHouse

Episode 460 | Recorded: August 11, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump, Aliyev, Pashinyan Meeting
  • Iranian Reaction
  • Russian Reaction

Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Trump, Aliyev, Pashinyan Meeting
  • Iranian Reaction
  • Russian Reaction

Episode 459 | Recorded: August 11, 2025

Summary In this episode, Christine Arakelian and Col. Douglas MacGregor join the hosts to analyze U.S. foreign policy moves from Gaza to the South Caucasus. They discuss Israel’s ongoing campaign in Gaza, the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the likely resumption of hostilities. The conversation examines the Trump–Pashinyan–Aliyev White House summit, the strategic “Trump Corridor” across Armenia, and its impact on Russia, Iran, and India. The guests explore India–Armenia relations, U.S. economic vulnerabilities, and the challenges of sustaining a long-term American role in the  Read More

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan Axis
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Armenia As a Strategic Partner
  • West Asia and Eurasia Context
  • Future Outlook

Episode 443 | Recorded: June 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey-Pakistan-Azerbaijan Axis
  • Operation Sindoor
  • Armenia As a Strategic Partner
  • West Asia and Eurasia Context
  • Future Outlook

Episode 443 | Recorded: June 3, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Genocide Recognition and State Silence
  • Iran-Azerbaijan Talks & Geopolitical Shifts
  • Bandar Abbas: Explosion, or Warning?

Episode 432 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Genocide Recognition and State Silence
  • Iran-Azerbaijan Talks & Geopolitical Shifts
  • Bandar Abbas: Explosion, or Warning?

Episode 432 | Recorded: April 29, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • U.S. Tariff Wars
  • Target: Iran
  • The Global South
  • The Belt and Road Initiative

Episode 427 | Recorded: April 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • U.S. Tariff Wars
  • Target: Iran
  • The Global South
  • The Belt and Road Initiative

Episode 427 | Recorded: April 6, 2025

In this Conversations on Groong episode, we speak with Professor Warwick Powell about the tectonic shifts in global trade, economics, and geopolitics. From Washington’s renewed tariff wars to China’s expanding influence through BRICS and infrastructure initiatives like the BRI, Powell shares his insights on the emerging multipolar order and the declining dominance of the U.S.-centric financial system.

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • World Politics
  • Plan, or No Plan?
  • Corridor Talk
  • Domestic Politics

Episode 416 | Recorded: February 17, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • A New Détente?
  • The Trump-Putin Call
  • Russia’s Strategic Choices
  • Russo-Armenian Relations
  • Russo-Azerbaijani Relations
  • Georgia’s Pragmatism

Episode 414 | Recorded: Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025

A New Détente? The Trump-Putin Call. Russia’s Strategic Choices. Russo-Armenian Relations. Russo-Azerbaijani Relations. Georgia’s Pragmatism.

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine
  • Shifting Global Power and Alliances
  • Small Countries in a Multipolar World

Episode 411 | Recorded: February 6, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine
  • Shifting Global Power and Alliances
  • Small Countries in a Multipolar World

Episode 411 | Recorded: February 6, 2025

The Ongoing conflicts: Gaza, Syria, Ukraine. Shifting Global Power and Alliances. Small Countries in a Multipolar World.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Russo-Iranian Partnership Treaty
  • Implications of 🇷🇺 - 🇮🇷 pact for Armenia
  • Trump Back in Office: War or Peace?

Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Russo-Iranian Partnership Treaty
  • Implications of 🇷🇺 - 🇮🇷 pact for Armenia
  • Trump Back in Office: War or Peace?

Episode 407 | Recorded: January 25, 2025

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian Azerbaijani Stalled Talks
  • Fall of Syria
  • Defense Politics
  • Un-Civil Strife

Episode 401 | Recorded: December 24, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenian Azerbaijani Stalled Talks
  • Fall of Syria
  • Defense Politics
  • Un-Civil Strife

Episode 401 | Recorded: December 24, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria’s Fall and Regional Power Shifts
  • Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Syria
  • Impact on Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations
  • Russia and Iran’s Middle East Strategy

Episode 399 | Recorded: December 19, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Syria’s Fall and Regional Power Shifts
  • Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Syria
  • Impact on Armenia-Azerbaijan Relations
  • Russia and Iran’s Middle East Strategy

Episode 399 | Recorded: December 19, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Escalation in Syria
  • COP29 Summit
  • Can NATO save Armenia?

Episode 391 | Recorded: December 4, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Escalation in Syria
  • COP29 Summit
  • Can NATO save Armenia?

Episode 391 | Recorded: December 4, 2024

Escalation in Syria. COP29 Summit. Can NATO save Armenia?

Guest:

Topics:

  • China, and the New World Order
  • BRICS Summit and Multipolarity
    • Armenia at BRICS
  • Georgian Elections in 2024

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • China, and the New World Order
  • BRICS Summit and Multipolarity
    • Armenia at BRICS
  • Georgian Elections in 2024

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024