The 17th BRICS summit was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 and 7, and there is a general agreement among attendees and observers that Brazil delivered a summit of exceptional quality. In addition to the Rio BRICS 2025 final declaration, described by analysts as a unified blueprint for a multipolar and inclusive global order, the summit resulted in three significant documents: one addressing climate finance (pdf), another concerning the global governance of artificial intelligence (pdf), and a third focused on the partnership aimed at eradicating socially determined diseases (pdf).

DOCUMENT: BRICS 2025 Declaration: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” (Source: BRICS Brazil)
BRICS 2025 – Leaders Declaration – EN

The Final Declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit transcends a mere diplomatic communiqué—it serves as a strategic manifesto, which embodies a mature, unified, and forward-thinking coalition ready to confront the challenges of a divided world with solutions grounded in solidarity, sovereignty, and sustainability. The declaration strongly condemned the implementation of “unilateral coercive measures,” such as economic sanctions, arguing that they violate international law and negatively impact human rights. BRICS members voiced concerns about Trump’s tariff policies, particularly his latest deadline announced last Wednesday, urging countries to finalise new trade agreements; otherwise, those failing to reach agreements with Washington will face increased tariffs. 

The ability to convert the BRICS vision into tangible action, particularly in areas such as financial reform, climate financing, health equity, and AI governance, will be pivotal in determining whether the bloc can transition from a forum of intentions to a catalyst for transformation. As India prepares to take the chair in 2026, the importance of continuity and execution cannot be overstated. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India will unveil a refreshed and people-centric vision for BRICS during its chairmanship in 2026. During the Summit, Modi further underscored that India’s leadership will be directed by the principle of inclusivity and an emphasis on the Global South, thereby advancing the forum with a people-oriented strategy and the ethos of “Humanity First.” In his speech at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, he offered a new perspective on the BRICS acronym, stating:

“Under India’s BRICS Chairmanship, we will define BRICS in a new form. BRICS would mean ‘Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability’.”

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, participated through videoconference in the primary plenary session focused on peace, security, and reforms in global governance, where he addressed the potential for enhanced collaboration among the BRICS nations in the realms of politics, trade, economics, culture, and humanitarian issues, in addition to the international agenda. During his presentation, Putin expressed Russia’s intention to create a completely new investment platform for BRICS. The core idea is for members to work together to develop coordinated tools that will help mobilise funds from the economies of BRICS countries, as well as from nations in the Global South and Global East. Putin also emphasised the significance of further promoting the use of national currencies in mutual transactions. 

At present, the BRICS nations represent 48.5% of the global population and contribute 39% to the worldwide GDP. They account for 24% of international trade, 43.6% of oil production and reserves, and 78.2% of coal reserves. Furthermore, this bloc is at the forefront of developing alternative technologies, embracing innovations, and facilitating digital transitions. Such economic and demographic strength enables BRICS to serve as a significant counterweight to established powers, promoting a more equitable, multipolar international system that honors the sovereignty of every nation. Modern Diplomacy breaks down some of the most significant takeaways of the Summit…

IMAGE: Visual identity of BRICS Brazil 9Source: BRICS Brazil) 

Kester Kenn Klomegah reports for Modern Diplomacy…

BRICS Summit in Rio Raises New Questions About the Bloc’s Future

Popularly referred to as BRICS, the informal group of emerging-market economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), meeting in Rio de Janeiro, has outlined a new and unprecedented multitude of goals to challenge the unipolar system. In the context of rising uncertainty, BRICS has further set up new models to change the economic architecture through South-South cooperation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hosted the early July BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, the capital city of Brazil. U.S. President Donald Trump’s position on many sensitive issues has offered the association something of a dilemma. In a joint statement, they decried “the rise of unjustified unilateral protectionist measures” and the “indiscriminate raising” of tariffs. BRICS members all agree that “these tariffs are not productive,” Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, South Africa’s lead negotiator, or sherpa, said in an interview. “They are not good for the world economy. They are not good for development.”

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has a raft of controversies with the United States over the introduction of a single BRICS currency, a suggestion he mooted in 2023. Besides that, Brazil is currently facing steep economic challenges in the face of trade friction with the United States. The majority of his citizens are facing deportation; it implies a significant fall in remittances, and that would worsen the social and financial standing of families across Brazil. It has had diverse criticisms, as have other new BRICS members with vastly different political and economic systems, and yet it advocates for reshaping the global balance of power. Most of them are negotiating to be at the discussion table to straighten economic ties with President Donald Trump.

The BRICS summit further called for strengthening multilateralism. China unreservedly underscored its desire to work with member states to “strengthen the BRICS strategic partnership and safeguard multilateralism,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a briefing in Beijing. With noticeable policy and economic disparities, its rapid expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates bolstered its representation—the new BRICS accounts for about 40% of global GDP and roughly half the planet’s population.

BRICS policy to build a multipolar world has attracted developing countries. Trade among the five original BRICS nations grew 40% between 2021 and 2024 to US$740 billion a year, according to International Monetary Fund data.

Emerging Tasks from Rio de Janeiro

Brazil took over from Russia last year in December and promised to put in complete order housekeeping issues—officially termed institutional development—on the agenda to better integrate new members and boost internal cohesion. With ten (10) partner members that include Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam, BRICS plans to work on an ad hoc practical cooperation basis. BRICS boasts of huge resources and substantially claims to be ahead of other groups in this parameter, including the G7, with US$57 trillion. Further to that, BRICS has many supporters in the Global South and East.

At the tail end of the July 6th to 7th summit, BRICS reset new tasks; little achievements were highlighted by speakers, in addition to those previously rattled phrases such as BRICS leads ‘multipolar world’ and is guided as a key center of global governance and works collectively towards economic growth and further gravitates the development of markets in the Global South. The question of payment in local currencies was underscored while BRICS members emphasised reducing the use of the dollar in currency transactions. In fact, several promising initiatives have thus become future responsibilities of the new BRICS chairman.

Russia’s Achievements

During the final summit at Kazan, which was held in October 2024, Russia established a category of BRICS partner states. In addition, Russia proposed creating a whole new BRICS investment platform. The idea behind it is to jointly develop coordinated instruments to support and to bring in the funds from the economies of BRICS countries and from the Global South and Global East countries. It suggested launching a special mechanism for holding consultations on World Trade Organisation matters. The processes for creating a grain exchange, a climate research center, a permanent logistics platform, and a sports cooperation program in BRICS are moving forward.

There are other valuable ideas proposed by Russia, which include the formation of a carbon market partnership, an arbitration investment center, a fair competition platform, and a permanent tax secretariat within BRICS.

In September, Moscow will host Intervision, a popular international television song contest that has gotten the attention of numerous performers from BRICS and BRICS partner countries who confirmed their willingness to participate in it. A humanitarian project of that magnitude is designed to promote universal, cultural, family, and spiritual values shared by members.

India’s Proposals

With the participation of BRICS members, partners, and outreach invitees, India proposed the creation of a BRICS Science and Research Repository to promote collaboration in critical areas, highlighted its initiatives in agri-biotech and digital education access, and called on BRICS to adopt a demand-driven approach and ensure long-term financial sustainability in New Development Bank (NDB) projects.

China’s Suggestions

Chinese Premier Li Qiang praised the complementary advantages and suggested broader forms of cooperation in such areas as the digital economy, green economy, sci-tech innovation, and aerospace. From notable indications, China stands ready to closely work with members and partners in enriching the dimensions both on a bilateral basis and in multilateral relations. China expressed high concerns over achieving concrete results rather than mere high-quality rhetoric. Premier Li Qiang further talked about BRICS working within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the G20, the African Union (AU), Eurasia, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

New Development Bank

The BRICS Bank President, Dilma Rousseff, has officially welcomed Colombia and Uzbekistan as new members. The membership now totalled 11 members, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Algeria. “We have several other countries under observation and review, and they may join the bank in the future,” Rousseff stated at the briefing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The NDB, established in 2015 as a multilateral development bank, operates with full respect for the sovereignty and development priorities of its member countries. Based in Shanghai, the bank has already approved over 120 projects worth a total of US$40 billion, focusing on areas such as clean energy, transport infrastructure, environmental protection, and social infrastructure.

Final Declaration

After the plenary session, the final declaration of the 17th BRICS summit—the “Rio de Janeiro “Declaration”—was adopted on 6th July 2025. The document welcomed Indonesia as a new BRICS member and the following countries as BRICS partner countries: Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

The 126-point document passed on the chairmanship to India in 2026 and the holding of the XVIII BRICS Summit in India. The document acknowledged the significance of (i) (i) Strengthening Multilateralism and Reforming Global Governance, (ii) Promoting Peace, Security, and International Stability, (iii) Deepening International Economic, Trade, and Financial Cooperation, (iv) Combating Climate Change and Promoting Sustainable Development, and (v) Partnerships for the Promotion of Human, Social, and Cultural Development.

Conclusion: Analysts, in summarised comments, note that despite the glaring inconsistencies among the group, China and India have somehow managed to speak with one voice on major international issues. Both countries are interested in leading the BRICS and the Global South as a whole. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes over the BRICS presidency for 2026, explaining that the group’s diversity is its strength and sharing a collective commitment to an emerging multipolar world. Original members of the bloc, Brazil, Russia, India, and China, have been joined by South Africa and, more recently, by Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia.

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