Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Russia-China Gang Hoards Gold Frenziedly, Mission to Destroy US Begins!

| Source: CNBC Translated from Indonesian | Economy
Russia-China Gang Hoards Gold Frenziedly, Mission to Destroy US Begins!
Image: CNBC

The countries within BRICS have become increasingly aggressive in bolstering their gold reserves in recent years. BRICS is a group of major developing nations cooperating in economic, political, and geopolitical spheres. The name derives from the initials of its member countries. BRICS originated from the acronym of the initially joining countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Amid the surge in global gold prices and rising geopolitical uncertainty, this move reflects not merely an investment strategy but a fundamental shift in how major nations view the global financial system. The BRICS bloc, now encompassing 10 countries contributing around 40% to the world economy and nearly 50% of the global population, is beginning to lessen its reliance on the United States dollar and pivot towards assets deemed safer and more neutral, namely gold. Efforts to Break Free from US Dollar Dominance One of the primary drivers behind BRICS countries’ gold purchases is the trend of de-dollarisation. For decades, the US dollar has dominated global foreign exchange reserves. However, its share has steadily declined, from around 71% in 1999 to just about 57% currently. Rather than switching to other currencies like the euro or yuan, many countries are opting for gold due to its nature unbound by any specific nation’s policies or authorities. Gold serves as an alternative reserve free from political risks and external interference. This step indicates a change in perspective among developing nations towards the stability of the global monetary system, which has long been heavily reliant on the dollar. Lessons from Russia’s Sanctions: Reserves Can Be “Frozen” The freezing of approximately US$300 billion in Russia’s foreign exchange reserves by Western countries in 2022 marked a pivotal turning point. This incident awakened many nations to the fact that dollar-denominated reserves held abroad are not entirely secure. In contrast, physical gold stored domestically cannot be frozen or seized by foreign entities. From a risk management standpoint, gold is now viewed as a strategic asset that grants full sovereignty over a nation’s reserves. Overall, BRICS+ holds gold reserves exceeding 6,000 tonnes. This surge in reserves did not occur overnight but is the result of a consistent trend of aggressive purchasing. In fact, BRICS countries have been recorded as dominating global central bank gold accumulation in recent years. Anticipating Global Inflation and a New Financial System Beyond geopolitical factors, the global debt surge is also prompting BRICS nations to increase their gold holdings. The US government’s debt, which has surpassed US$39 trillion, heightens concerns over the potential long-term weakening of the dollar’s value. Gold, which cannot be printed like fiat currencies, serves as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation. On another front, there are initial efforts to build an alternative financial system based on gold and BRICS currencies. Although still in early stages, this initiative reflects a new direction towards a more multipolar global financial system, no longer entirely dependent on the US dollar.

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