BRICS leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have called for deeper economic cooperation and resilient supply chains amid sanctions and geopolitical disruptions. The bloc, which holds 85% of global rare earth reserves and 40.7% of proven oil reserves, is positioning itself to reduce dependence on traditional trade networks and enhance self-reliance.

Rare earths, critical for clean energy and advanced manufacturing, are a key focus. According to 2025 data from the US Geological Survey, China holds 48.9% of global reserves, Brazil 23.3%, India 7.7%, Russia 4.2%, and South Africa 1%. This concentration gives BRICS a significant advantage in securing strategic minerals for technology and defense.

Oil remains a strategic resource, with BRICS controlling 40.7% of global proven reserves. Countries like Iran and Venezuela, which have faced US sanctions, share this resource advantage. Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, and Russia together account for 37.8% of global oil reserves, further underlining BRICS' influence over energy markets.

Food self-sufficiency is another pillar of BRICS' strategy. The bloc accounts for 57.4% of global food production, with China and India producing nearly half of the world's total output. This dominance strengthens domestic food security and provides a buffer against inflation and supply chain disruptions.

To mitigate vulnerabilities from critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, BRICS is exploring alternative trade routes. Initiatives such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Russia's proposed eastern and Arctic shipping routes aim to shorten distances, bypass strategic bottlenecks, and lower transport costs while building more resilient supply chains.

While BRICS has growing control over strategic resources, it still depends on the West for advanced semiconductors and high-end technology. The bloc's increasing self-reliance in energy, food, and critical minerals is seen as a step toward greater resilience against sanctions and geopolitical shocks. However, the exact figures on reserves and production, as well as the full impact of these strategies, remain areas requiring further independent verification.