Middle powers gain options in multipolar world but lack collective defence guarantees

BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and a growing set of regional groupings are increasingly being promoted by member states as mechanisms to mitigate the strategic pressure exerted by the United States, the European Union and other established powers. At recent summits, leaders highlighted the ability of these forums to coordinate economic policies, facilitate trade financing and present a unified diplomatic voice on issues ranging from sanctions to technology transfer, thereby offering participating countries a degree of political and economic breathing space.

Analysts, however, caution that while the organisations expand cooperation in trade, investment and security dialogue, they stop short of establishing a collective defence pact comparable to NATO. The SCO’s security framework remains focused on counter‑terrorism and border management, and BRICS lacks any mutual‑defence clause, limiting its capacity to deter military aggression. Consequently, the groups can alleviate great‑power pressure through multilateral engagement, but they do not provide the binding security guarantees that would constitute a formal defence alliance.