Nigeria, July 9 -- The recently concluded BRICS Leaders' Summit in Rio took place against the backdrop of great geopolitical flux. After years of growing relevance, the group appears to be struggling to maintain forward momentum. As its expanded membership grapples with their own internal contradictions and an increasingly unpredictable international system, a hard reset may be needed to get back to basics.

In recent years, BRICS has enjoyed a resurgence. In 2022, the Ukraine war and fatigue with Western-dominated global governance and finance institutions bolstered interest in alternative power centres, particularly among Global South countries.

The group's utility for its five core members has centred around shared interests, South-So...