As operational alternatives to dollar hegemony emerge, the window for genuine regional autonomy is rapidly closing

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, December 6, 2027 - When South Africa's Standard Bank became the first African financial institution to integrate directly with China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) in June 2025, it sent a clear message to the Global South: escape from dollar dependency is no longer theoretical—it's operational, available today, and processing real transactions.