More sophisticated analysts will diagree. I don’t care. At some point you have to face the truth: 1) China cares only about trade. They’ll continue to built a huge, technologically advanced military capability but they’ll only use it to defend China and maybe take Taiwan. And while they may send some weapons and advisors to help this country or that, it will never amount to more than that. Leave their exports alone, and their inflow of oil, and you (I.e. the U.S.) can do pretty much what you want . 2)) Putin is a bright, almost too bright, guy but he and his team have their hands full with Ukraine. They have their hands full largely because Putin has played softball for four years, wasting money, men and time playing the diplomacy game. Alas,, he has played it with people who consider diplomacy a sucker’s game—and in Putin’s case, are correct. 3) India is a feckless sneak who will never be a reliable ally of anybody. Like Brazil, they will always be a future great power, the future economic superstate. It makes them feel good to hear it and say it. . And 4) The Arab World? Not worth discussing. Cowardly oil-wealthy cattle placidly led to pasture by Uncle Yank the Protector.

BRICs? Stillborn

As Tony Soprano would say: “End of story!”