BRICS Summit 2025: A New Dawn of Unity and Global South Influence in Rio

BRICS Rio Summit: Despite expansion challenges, a united front emerges. Landmark agreements on UN Security Council & IMF reform signal a powerful Global South push for a multipolar world.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – July 6, 2025 – The 17th BRICS summit has officially commenced in the vibrant seaside resort of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, drawing significant global attention amidst a period of intense international flux. Despite a rainy start and some final negotiation points on the agenda, expectations for a "big success" remain remarkably high. This year’s gathering is poised to be a pivotal moment, with delegates arriving from across the expanded BRICS bloc and partner nations, signaling a determined push for a more inclusive and sustainable global order.

Adding to the diplomatic gravitas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is already arrived, while President Vladimir Putin is participating via video link. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also arrived for his fourth visit to Brazil, keen to bolster bilateral ties in trade, defense, and energy alongside the summit proceedings. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, is also present. While earlier reports had suggested that the presidents of China, Russia, Egypt, and Iran would not be attending in person, the latest updates confirm key high-level representation, showcasing the group's continued commitment.

A United Front: Breakthrough on Global Governance Reform

In a significant stride towards consensus, diplomats from the BRICS group have successfully agreed on a joint declaration for their leaders ahead of the summit. This achievement is particularly noteworthy given the complexities of reaching common ground among the rapidly expanding membership, which now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia (with invited status), and the UAE. This shared statement underscores BRICS' commitment to unity, even on contentious geopolitical issues that had previously proven difficult, such as the conflict in the Middle East and the reform of the UN Security Council.

One of the most impactful breakthroughs pertains to the reform of the United Nations Security Council. Negotiators, who had struggled to find shared language on Africa’s representation, have reportedly agreed to endorse seats for Brazil and India, while leaving open which country should represent Africa’s interests to overcome internal differences. This pragmatic approach allows for forward movement while acknowledging the sensitivities within the African continent.

Simultaneously, BRICS finance ministers have announced a unified proposal for reforms to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), marking a historic first for the group. Their joint statement calls for a new distribution of voting rights and a decisive end to the traditional European management at the IMF's helm, a system deemed "anachronistic" and "unfit for the current world order". They advocate for a new quota formula weighted by economic output and purchasing power, aimed at better representing low-income and developing countries within the global financial architecture. This unified stance on reforming Western-dominated institutions demonstrates BRICS' growing diplomatic clout and its determination to speak for the Global South.

Charting a New Course: BRICS' Vision for a Multipolar World

The motto for this year's summit, "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance," encapsulates the overarching ambition of BRICS. Many within the BRICS community view the movement as humanity's best hope at a critical crossroads, offering an alternative system of governance to what is described as a "predatory attack by the Western oligarchic neocolonial imperialistic system". This alternative aims to foster liberty, prosperity, and peace, moving away from existing global hierarchies and promoting a multipolar world. As one analyst notes, the BRICS group, with its "rich diversity" of economies and cultures, truly represents a "microcosm of the world itself" and is uniquely positioned to lead in creating new global frameworks.

The Brazilian presidency has played a crucial role in positioning BRICS as a major force in reforming global governance and bridging divides within the Global South. Key agenda items proposed by Brazil for this summit are highly pragmatic, including promoting trade and development through alternative payment systems, governing global AI systems, fostering cooperation among the Global South in public health, developing more financing structures for climate initiatives, and enhancing governance within the BRICS group itself. There is particular interest in new announcements regarding alternative financing structures, building on recent progress like a framework for climate financing, the establishment of tropical forest funds, and the New Development Bank (NDB) approving significant investments in green energies. A new initiative to establish multilateral guarantee funds to lower financing costs and mobilize investment is also expected, providing much-needed southern-led development and climate financing at a time when the Global South faces debt crises and reduced support from the Global North.

Beyond these, the summit is expected to delve into critical economic discussions, including:

• Trade liberalization to counter protectionist pressures.

• Enhanced cooperation among regional integration blocs and development institutions to facilitate trade and investment.

• Accelerating de-dollarization and establishing new payment systems in national currencies, preparing for a "post-dollar era".

• Addressing US tariffs and ensuring the non-disruption of supply chains, especially for critical rare earth minerals.

• Deliberations on future energy security and oil and gas prices, given the membership of major energy producers like Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

Messages of Guidance and Hope from the BRICS Community

The "Think BRICS" channel compiled a series of messages from experts, colleagues, and friends, offering guidance and expressing their hopes for the BRICS leaders at this summit. These voices, representing various perspectives from the Global South and beyond, urge the leaders to act with "clarity, sovereignty, and vision" and to build institutions that match their ambitious rhetoric. Many emphasize the need for BRICS to develop its own course rather than simply replicating Western institutions, focusing on extending its network and developing its own infrastructure, financial systems, and payment methods.

Specific pleas to the leaders include:

• A strong rejection of current geopolitical policies that could lead to global conflict.

• Using BRICS as a platform to propose a new international security and development architecture that considers the interests of every nation.

• Maintaining cohesiveness and the true purpose of BRICS—to shape effective multilateralism in a multipolar world—even with increasing membership.

• Fostering an inclusive world by promoting dialogue and cooperation between the Global South and the Global North.

As the 17th BRICS summit unfolds in Rio, the world watches with keen interest. The significant agreements on UN Security Council and IMF reforms signal a potent display of unity and a determined push by the Global South to redefine global governance. With its expanding membership and ambitious agenda, BRICS is striving to forge a path towards a more equitable, multipolar world, setting the stage for crucial discussions that will shape the future of international relations and global development.