In this article, I argue that the decline of United States hegemony is the primary driver behind the rise of the BRICS grouping. Examining the expanded coalition, I analyze its function as a defensive bloc resisting imperialist mandates and Washington’s unilateral dictates. Unlike the historic Bandung Conference, the BRICS does not constitute a homogenous anti-imperialist front, as it incorporates dominant central powers like China, semi-peripheral actors like Russia and Brazil, and typical peripheral economies. However, by introducing significant fractures at the top of the global order, the alliance alters the balance of forces and creates valuable opportunities for popular and left-wing movements. I emphasize the necessity of evaluating the group’s internal asymmetries and heterogeneities without falling into naive idealizations or outright dismissals.