South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) chief executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos warned on Wednesday that geopolitical ruptures may make the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, or BRICS, economic grouping's chances of addressing systemic and existential challenges in the next decade extremely difficult.

Rising geopolitical tensions in Europe were the biggest challenge, she said.

Tensions between Russian and Ukraine have been escalating since 2014 and are creating precedents of sovereign countries determining the borders of other sovereign countries.

Russia has sent troops into Ukraine, prompting countries to impose sanctions on Russia.

South Africa, as a BRICS member, is yet to comment on the conflict.

“To say that we cannot afford geopolitical tensions at a time of significant global developmental challenges, climate and sustainable development targets that we have to reach by 2030 may be quite trite, but such geopolitical ruptures may very well make our chances of addressing systemic and existential challenges in the next decade extremely difficult, not just for South Africa but for the world,” said Sidiropoulos.

She added that for a country like South Africa, which faces significant developmental challenges, how it mobilises and participates in groupings, such as BRICS, to help it realise its developmental agenda, is critical.