Brazil’s First BRICS Sherpa Meeting: Key Takeaways and Strategic Goals

Brazil's first BRICS Sherpa meeting set the stage for 2025, focusing on health, climate, economic cooperation, AI governance, and multilateralism, reinforcing the bloc's global influence and unity.

Brazil marked the commencement of its BRICS presidency with the first Sherpa meeting, held over two days at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília. Led by Ambassador Maurício Lyrio, Brazil’s BRICS Sherpa, the meeting focused on a range of strategic priorities, including global health, climate change, economic cooperation, artificial intelligence governance, and multilateralism. The discussions underscored Brazil’s commitment to strengthening BRICS cooperation and reinforcing global governance structures.

Health: Tackling Neglected Diseases

One key highlight of the meeting was Brazil’s proposal to establish a BRICS partnership to eradicate socially determined diseases and neglected tropical diseases. Ambassador Lyrio emphasized that this initiative aligns with Brazil’s broader commitment to global health, similar to its role in the G20 Global Alliance against Hunger. The proposal received strong support from BRICS members, reflecting a shared interest in improving healthcare accessibility and combatting diseases disproportionately affecting emerging economies.

Climate Change: Strengthening Global Commitments

The climate agenda featured prominently in the discussions, with the President of COP28 presenting Brazil’s climate priorities. A significant takeaway was the consensus on negotiating a joint BRICS declaration on climate action, to be finalized before the upcoming BRICS Summit in July. The Brazilian government views this initiative as a stepping stone toward ensuring a successful COP29 later this year.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also addressed the urgency of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), noting that Brazil and the United Arab Emirates were among the few countries that had submitted updated commitments before the official deadline. However, other BRICS members raised concerns over the slow pace of NDC updates, highlighting the need for stronger collective climate action.

Economic Cooperation: Revamping Strategic Partnerships

Economic collaboration remains a core focus of BRICS, with the meeting reaffirming support for the review and renewal of the BRICS Five-Year Strategic Plan. This plan aims to enhance economic, commercial, and financial integration among member states. Discussions also explored potential advancements in trade facilitation, digital payment systems, and infrastructure financing, reinforcing BRICS’ role as an economic powerhouse.

Notably, the idea of a common BRICS currency was not on the agenda. Instead, discussions centered on reducing transaction costs through improved payment systems and financial integration. The focus remains on practical economic solutions rather than an immediate shift to a shared currency.

Artificial Intelligence: Advocating for Inclusive Governance

The meeting also covered AI governance, with members endorsing a framework for global AI regulation under the United Nations. BRICS nations agreed that AI should be governed inclusively, ensuring that emerging economies have a voice in shaping international AI policies. The consensus was that fragmented or exclusive AI governance models could lead to global imbalances, making BRICS’ role in advocating for a balanced approach even more crucial.

Multilateralism and Global Governance

A central theme of the discussions was the BRICS commitment to strengthening multilateralism. The group reaffirmed its support for a rules-based international order, emphasizing the need to reform global governance institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

With geopolitical shifts affecting global cooperation, BRICS members stressed their collective responsibility to push for a more inclusive international system. Brazil, in particular, advocates for a reformed multilateralism that maintains the core principles of global cooperation while adapting to emerging economic and political realities.

Expanding BRICS: Partner Engagement and Future Rotations

The meeting also discussed the BRICS expansion process, following the group’s enlargement to 11 full members and 9 partner countries. Representatives from partner nations participated in a special session with President Lula, highlighting BRICS’ growing influence.

Another topic of discussion was the rotation of BRICS presidencies. A proposal was introduced to finalize the current cycle (Russia in 2024, Brazil in 2025, India in 2026, China in 2027, and South Africa in 2028) before adopting an alphabetical order for future presidencies starting in 2029.

Looking Ahead: BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting and Summit

The meeting laid the groundwork for upcoming BRICS engagements, including the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in April and the Leaders’ Summit on July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro. These events are expected to solidify policy decisions and shape BRICS’ strategic direction under Brazil’s presidency.

Brazil’s first BRICS Sherpa meeting successfully reaffirmed the group’s commitment to health, climate action, economic collaboration, and AI governance, while emphasizing multilateralism and institutional reform. The discussions set a constructive tone for Brazil’s leadership, with broad support for its key priorities and a shared vision for a stronger, more inclusive BRICS.