Russia Abandons BRICS? Putin Proposes Major Trade Deal with U.S.

Russia is stepping away from the BRICS coalition’s push to abandon the U.S. dollar in global trade. In a surprising turn, President Vladimir Putin has extended an offer to supply 2 million tons of aluminum to the U.S. market. If accepted, this deal could help stabilize the volatile metals sector and provide much-needed price relief. But the implications stretch far beyond aluminum—this could signal a fundamental shift in Russia’s economic strategy. Russia’s Rare Earth Lifeline to the U.S. Beyond aluminum, Russia is also opening the door to rare earth mineral exports—an industry critical to U.S. technology and military production. With the world’s fifth-largest reserves, Russia could become a key supplier for essential materials used in electric vehicles (EVs), cell phones,…