Leaders of growing BRICS group gather for Rio summit

Leaders of the expanding BRICS alliance are set to meet in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, aiming to position the group as a champion of multilateralism and a counterbalance to traditional Western-led institutions.

Amid growing divisions within global platforms such as the G7 and G20, and the disruptive “America First” stance of U.S. President Donald Trump- the BRICS bloc sees its growth as an opportunity for stronger diplomatic collaboration.

Speaking at a BRICS business forum on Saturday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva underscored the responsibility of emerging economies to safeguard multilateral trade and push for reforms to the global financial system, especially as protectionist policies resurface.

Lula highlighted that BRICS countries now account for more than half of the world’s population and 40% of global GDP. Originally formed in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, and China and joined later by South Africa- the bloc expanded further last year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. This summit marks the first participation of Indonesia’s leader.

“The space left vacant by others is quickly occupied by BRICS,” said a Brazilian diplomat, who noted that while the G7 retains significant influence, its dominance has diminished.

Still, the group's increasing diversity poses challenges. It now includes both emerging powers and regional rivals, raising questions about its shared agenda. This year’s summit was somewhat overshadowed by Chinese President Xi Jinping sending his prime minister instead, and Russian President Vladimir Putin participating remotely due to an ICC arrest warrant.

Despite this, prominent leaders such as India’s Narendra Modi and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa will attend the meetings at Rio’s Museum of Modern Art. Interest in BRICS is growing, with over 30 countries expressing willingness to join either as full members or partners.

As BRICS expands, it gains diplomatic heft, particularly in efforts to represent the Global South and advocate for changes to major institutions such as the UN Security Council and the IMF. Brazil, also set to host the UN climate summit in November, is leveraging both events to show the Global South’s serious commitment to addressing climate change—contrasting with Trump’s rollback of U.S. climate policies.

Sources revealed that both China and the UAE signaled plans to invest in Brazil’s proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility, aimed at protecting threatened rainforests.

Yet, the bloc’s growth also complicates internal consensus-building. Ahead of the summit, negotiators struggled to align on issues such as the Gaza conflict, tensions between Israel and Iran, and reforms to the Security Council. To manage African representation in the reformed Council, BRICS agreed to support Brazil and India’s inclusion, while postponing a decision on Africa’s representative.

The group is also expected to renew its criticism of Trump’s tariff policies. In an April ministerial meeting, BRICS raised concerns over “unjustified unilateral protectionist measures,” especially the broad imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

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