The new 'OPEC' of AI: Putin and the BRICS create a technological alliance to challenge the West

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Technological Geopolitics

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the creation of an artificial intelligence alliance network with the BRICS bloc. The initiative aims to create an alternative technological hub to challenge the hegemony of the United States and Europe, with profound implications for Spanish trade and businesses.

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A 'Digital Iron Curtain' on the geopolitical horizon

President of Rusia, Vladimir Putin, has officially announced the launch of a Artificial Intelligence (AI) alliance network together with the member countries of the bloc BRICSThis strategic move, announced on May 28, 2026, has the stated objective of countering Western technological dominance and establishing a sovereign ecosystem of innovation and digital development. The measure represents a further step in consolidating a bipolar world in the technological sphere, with Estados Unidos, under the presidency of Donald Trump, and the Unión Europea on one side, and the axis led by China y Rusia in the other one.

The alliance not only includes the founding members of the BRICS (Brasil, Rusia, India, China y Sudáfrica), but also to its most recent additions such as Egipto, Etiopía, Irán, Arabia Saudí and Emiratos Árabes UnidosAccording to analysts in technological geopolitics consulted by Foreign Company"We are witnessing the creation of a kind of 'OPEC of AI', where a bloc of countries seeks to control not only the development, but also the standards and governance of a technology critical to the economy of the future."

Direct implications for Spanish exporting companies

The emergence of two antagonistic technological ecosystems presents significant challenges for Spanish companies with international operations. Dependence on cloud-based software, hardware, and platforms could become a geopolitical minefield. Experts point to several critical issues:

• Fragmentation of the technology supply chain: Companies may be forced to use different technology providers depending on whether they operate in Western markets or in the sphere of influence of the BRICSincreasing costs and operational complexity.
• New risks in cybersecurity and data: Interoperability between systems will become more complex and risky. Data transfer between blocks will be subject to increasingly strict and politicized regulation, with the GDPR European as a possible point of friction with the regulations of the new alliance.
• Competition in emerging markets: The alliance BRICS It will likely promote its own AI solutions in markets of África, Asia y América Latina, competing directly with the European and Spanish technological offering in sectors such as logistics, industry 4.0 or fintech.

This new scenario forces Spanish managers to re-evaluate their internationalization strategies, diversification of technology providers, and management of geopolitical risks in their business plans.

Comparative Table: Global Technology Blocs (Analysis 2026)

Feature	Western Bloc (US/EU)	BRICS Alliance
Leadership	Privately owned technology giants EE.UU. (Big Tech) with government support.	State-led initiative with strong government control (Rusia, China).
Technological Standards	Open standards but dominated by US companies.	Seeking to create our own and alternative standards.
Regulatory Approach	Focused on privacy and competition (e.g. GDPR in the UE).	It prioritizes digital sovereignty, national security, and data control.
Markets of Influence	Europa, América del Norteallies in Asia-Pacífico.	Domestic markets, Asia Central, África, parts of América Latina.

Key points and frequently asked questions about the BRICS AI Alliance

How does this alliance affect my company if I don't export to BRICS countries?

Even if your company does not operate directly in the countries BRICSThe impact can be indirect. Fragmentation can affect software and hardware suppliers, international logistics that rely on technologies from different blocs, and intensify competition in third-party markets where the alliance's solutions are not used. BRICS They could have competitive or political advantages.

Does it pose a real risk to the technological hegemony of the United States and Europe?

In the short term, the Western ecosystem maintains a significant advantage in innovation and capital. However, in the medium and long term, this alliance presents a formidable challenge. Control over vast markets, key natural resources for chip manufacturing, and a massive combined population could accelerate its development and adoption, creating a real alternative and eroding its current dominance.

Which Spanish sectors are most exposed to this change?

The most vulnerable sectors are those with high technological dependence and an international focus. This includes software and ICT services companies, the automotive sector and Industry 4.0, international logistics and transport, financial services (fintech), and any company whose value chain is digitized and globalized.