BRICS: Powerful Bloc or Political Theater?
British economist Lord Jim O'Neill joins Leslie Vinjamuri on Deep Dish to discuss the global relevance of the BRICS.
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About the Episode
With President Trump’s increasing tariff threats and growing talks of dedollarization, how much power does the BRICS bloc really hold? Lord Jim O'Neill, who originally coined the term BRICS, joins Deep Dish to unpack its rise and global relevance amid deepening geopolitical rivalries.
About the Experts
Distinguished Nonresident Fellow on the Global Economy
Lord Jim O'Neill, who joined the Council as a distinguished nonresident fellow in 2025, is an economist and former commercial secretary to the UK Treasury. He also served as the chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management and is the creator of the BRIC acronym (Brazil, Russia, India, China), which was coined in November 2001.
President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She brings nearly 30 years of experience working at the intersection of international affairs, research, policy, and public engagement.