The $1 Trillion Milestone: BRICS+ Redefines Global Trade as “The Unit” Goes Live
New Delhi, India — February 7, 2026
The global economic landscape has reached a historic inflection point as the BRICS+ coalition—comprising the original five members plus its newest additions, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—officially surpassed $1 trillion in intra-bloc trade turnover.
This milestone, achieved in the first weeks of February 2026, serves as a powerful signal of a shifting gravity in world leadership governance.
As the group prepares for the upcoming 2026 summit in India, the transition from a diplomatic forum to a functional economic titan is being cemented by the operational rollout of “The Unit,” a gold-backed digital payment system designed to bypass traditional Western financial corridors.
The Surge of Intra-Bloc Commerce
According to the latest trade reports analyzed on February 7, the BRICS+ nations have seen a 14% year-to-date growth rate, significantly outpacing the performance of most G7 economies.
China continues to anchor this volume, contributing roughly 40% of the total trade, but the most dramatic surges have been recorded in Russia and India, with intra-bloc trade rising by 20% and 15% respectively.
This growth is largely driven by massive energy and agricultural exports, facilitated by a deliberate pivot away from the U.S. dollar.
The success of this $1 trillion turnover is not merely a statistical achievement; it reflects a deeper structural realignment.
For nations like Egypt and Ethiopia, who joined the bloc to secure their economic autonomy, the Suez Canal and the rapidly expanding East African labor markets have become vital nodes in this new “South-South” trade network.
Analysts point out that the ability of these nations to trade effectively amongst themselves—despite varying political systems—demonstrates a pragmatic approach to governance that prioritizes regional resilience over ideological conformity.
“The Unit”: A Digital Challenge to Global Reserve Norms
At the heart of this economic surge is the activation of “The Unit,” a sophisticated international currency system that moved from a pilot phase to live operation in early 2026.
Unlike previous proposals for a common currency, The Unit functions as a digital unit of account for cross-border settlements.
It is innovatively structured: 40% is backed by physical gold held in audited vaults across member nations, while 60% is anchored by a weighted basket of local currencies, including the Chinese yuan, the Indian rupee, and the Russian ruble.
This “40/60” strategy is designed to offer the stability of ancient gold reserves alongside the growth potential of the world’s most dynamic emerging markets.
By using The Unit, BRICS+ countries can now conduct massive transactions without the “friction” of dollar conversion or the risk of secondary sanctions.
Financial observers in London and New York are watching this development with caution, as the dollar’s share of global reserves has reportedly dipped to 56%, down from its historical highs.
While the U.S. dollar remains dominant in liquid markets, the rise of a “Plan B” infrastructure for the Global South suggests that the era of a single, unchallenged reserve currency is nearing its end.
Strategic Hedging and the 2030 Horizon
As India prepares to chair the 2026 BRICS Presidency, the focus has shifted toward institutionalizing these gains.
The New Development Bank (NDB) has already expanded its local currency financing to 30%, providing a lifeline for infrastructure projects in member states that were previously vulnerable to fluctuating exchange rates.
This move is part of a broader “competitive liberalization” strategy, where BRICS+ nations seek to extract maximum benefit from their rising leverage in global supply chains, particularly in critical minerals like lithium and cobalt.
The implications for world leadership governance are profound. The BRICS+ model of “integration of integrations”—linking regional blocs like ASEAN and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—is creating a more fragmented but potentially more stable multipolar order.
By establishing clear rules for digital trade and financial settlement outside of traditional Western-dominated institutions, the bloc is fulfilling its mandate to provide a “second brain” for the global economy.
As of February 2026, the question is no longer whether a multipolar world is possible, but how the existing powers will adapt to its reality.
Castle Journal insightful
Castle Journal newspapers are the only voice and the brain of the world leadership governance. British company for newspapers and magazines publishing, London-UK – licensed 10675.
Abeer Almadawy
Founder | Owner | CEO
