First, it is without doubt that something of the sort is in the air, despite the superficial unlikelihood of such an event materialising. Even the Kremlin is reporting such an imminent return. While the idea seems at first glance to be preposterous given Russia’s part in the BRICS and its member nations, and others, moving toward trading in their own currencies and the development of various alternative monetary transaction systems ongoing, the idea does actually make sense.
Lena Petrova, in her ‘World Affairs in Context’ online content, paints an agreeable picture, with which I am also in agreement, of this situation. Watch it here on YooToob (note the ‘?’ in the title): De-dollarization FAILED? – Russia Is RETURNING to the U.S. Dollar System’ – Lena Petrova – Feb 13, 2026. I’m not sure of the complete accuracy of the title though, as I think Russia has been trading with the US (presumably in USD) throughout the Ukraine conflict, and it was the US which barred Russia from the payment system. But what Lena says in the video is carefully worded, and accurate, and justified, in my opinion.
After all, all the other BRICS nations, even China, are still trading with the world through the SWIFT payment system, while also trading among themselves in their own currencies where possible or through the development of alternative payment structures. Why should Russia miss out on that same benefit, if available, while other colleagues have the best of both worlds? And it does not necessarily mean that Russia will use SWIFT for anything other than trading with the US as just another trading nation. All other western nations being presumably required to work to Russian rules if they want to resume trading. That is how I see it working. Time will reveal the truth.
This news about Russia and SWIFT, a deal which must have been negotiated recently (in relative secrecy) is ample proof, in my book, that there is no antagonism from Russia towards the US. And such is which also forms a basic principle of the BRICS group. They, as a group of sovereign nations, are not trying to destroy the US economy (and the world economy with it), though it would thoroughly deserve such treatment, but simply in order to avert being dominated by it through the development and utilisation of other, more independent and less restrictive, channels. If the US administration, or those who drive it, do not like that idea they should amend their world view to a more inclusive and friendly one. There is room here for all of us to operate freely and cooperatively in a spirit of equality among sovereign nations. Whether that can be viewed as achievable in western minds, is quite different and unrelated to the fact that it could easily be arranged, with good will and intent to make it work on the part of all mankind.
Such an inclusive environment can only not be viewed as possible if it is found or taken to be true that western minds are intentionally, intrinsically, and therefore indelibly evil. I am personally unconvinced either way on that. It is difficult to believe that people – people just, on the face of it, like you and I (and I am a westerner – born and bred), could find no other inner directive than to consider themselves born to rule, in whatever way they like, the rest of humanity – thinking of those others as slaves or somehow sub-human. But it is also difficult to believe, based on their current and historical actions and attitudes, that they don’t, or even cannot think otherwise.
What is more important is just how the rest of the non-western world could ever come to terms with that dilemma. And yet they seem to do so. And so far, with no apparent thoughts of taking revenge for past outrageous treatment.
If I, as a westerner (and I know I am not alone – a great many westerners think much the same way), can consider myself as part of the whole commonwealth of mankind, with no right to more than my fair share of the wealth and benefits freely provided by nature to us all (even if not always fairly distributed), then why cannot every person on the planet think the same way in relation to all other fellow human beings, irrespective of the fact that the world of nature itself (or ‘god’ if you prefer that term) does not treat us all equally and with common fairness?
Not Something Else 
Leave a comment