Leaders from the BRICS alliance gathered in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 and 7 for their seventeenth annual summit, bringing together a bloc that now represents more than half the world’s population and about 40 percent of global economic output. The summit took place as the group continues to position itself as a leading platform for countries in the Global South.
Hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the summit carried the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” Eleven member countries attended alongside nine partner nations, marking a significant step in the bloc’s efforts to reshape global diplomacy and challenge long-standing dominance by Western-led institutions.
Indonesia formally joined the bloc on January 6, 2025, becoming the first Southeast Asian country to secure full membership. The Rio summit also welcomed several nations as new BRICS partners, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. These partner states, introduced through a new membership category created in 2024, will participate in future summits with the consensus of full members.
BRICS began in 2009 as a coalition of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining shortly after. Last year, the group expanded further to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. More than 30 additional countries have expressed interest in joining either as full members or partners, showing the growing appeal of the bloc as an alternative to institutions like the G7 and the International Monetary Fund.
President Lula used the opening of the summit to highlight BRICS’ role as a counterweight to traditional powers. He invoked the legacy of the Cold War-era Non-Aligned Movement, calling BRICS its modern successor. “With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again,” Lula said. He pointed out that the bloc and its partners now account for 46 percent of the world’s GDP and 55 percent of its population.
Though the summit was seen as a moment of strength for the alliance, it was not without diplomatic tensions. Chinese President Xi Jinping did not attend in person, sending Premier Li Qiang in his place, a first since Xi took power in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin participated virtually, avoiding travel due to an active International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Leaders from India and South Africa attended in person, maintaining a high-level presence at the gathering.
The Rio Declaration announced several initiatives aligned with the bloc’s goal of restructuring international governance. BRICS adopted a Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, aiming to enhance financial support for developing countries ahead of Brazil’s hosting of the COP30 summit later this year. The group also issued a statement on the governance of artificial intelligence, proposing ethical frameworks that challenge Western dominance in setting technology standards.
Public health cooperation featured prominently in the talks. Leaders launched the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases, an initiative intended to improve health outcomes in member states without relying on Western pharmaceutical firms or global health institutions. This follows frustrations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when BRICS countries accused Western governments of hoarding vaccines and prioritizing profit.
A central message of the summit was the need to reform key global institutions. Leaders reiterated demands to expand the United Nations Security Council and reform the International Monetary Fund. These organizations, according to BRICS members, reflect outdated post-war power dynamics that marginalize the voice of developing countries. “If international governance does not reflect the new multipolar reality of the 21st century, it is up to BRICS to help bring it up to date,” Lula said.
Trade and finance were also major themes. At a meeting held in April, BRICS foreign ministers failed to reach consensus on a joint communique but did issue a statement criticizing the United States for what they called unjustified protectionist measures. Ministers condemned the Trump administration’s threats of 100 percent tariffs on countries shifting away from the dollar and described these as acts of economic coercion.
The summit renewed efforts to build alternative financial systems that are less reliant on Western-dominated structures. China and the United Arab Emirates announced their intention to invest in Brazil’s proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility. The project is designed to provide sustainable financing for conservation efforts and shows how BRICS countries are creating their own tools for global development.
Environmental leadership was another key focus of Brazil’s BRICS presidency. Lula’s government used the summit to promote its climate agenda ahead of COP30 in Belém, contrasting it with the United States, which has scaled back climate engagement under President Trump.
The expansion of BRICS has strengthened its standing among countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. However, the broader and more diverse membership also brings new challenges. Differing foreign policy priorities and internal rivalries have made it difficult for the group to present a unified stance on certain global conflicts.
The summit concluded with Brazil handing the rotating presidency to South Africa, which will also host the G20 summit later this year. The BRICS grouping continues to evolve, building a space for developing countries to push back against what they see as an unfair global order and working to shape a more balanced and inclusive international system.
