BRICS Summit in Rio: The Global South's Moment of Opportunity Amid Western Skepticism

Brazil hosts emerging economies seeking multipolar alternatives while Western media questions absent leaders and internal cohesion in the evolving geopolitical landscape.

As Rio de Janeiro prepares to host the 17th BRICS Summit from July 6-7, 2025, the gathering represents more than just another diplomatic meeting. It embodies the early contours of what political theorist

Alexander Dugin

describes as a "multipolar world order" still in its formative stages—a preliminary sketch of global governance that prioritizes the interests of emerging economies and the Global South.

Brazil, hosting the summit for the fourth time since co-founding BRICS in 2009, has chosen a theme that encapsulates the organization's true mission: "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance." This framing deliberately counters Western media narratives that persistently characterize BRICS as an anti-Western bloc or a direct rival to the G7.

Beyond the Anti-Western Narrative

The fundamental misunderstanding of BRICS in Western discourse stems from a binary worldview that assumes any alternative to existing structures must be adversarial. Brazil's foreign policy of "Active Non-Alignment" exemplifies the organization's actual approach, positioning itself as an "honest broker" that refuses automatic alignment with any major global power while prioritizing national interests and common ground on global challenges.

As Brazilian officials (and their BRICS colleagues in the past!) have repeatedly emphasized, BRICS is "not against anyone." Rather than fostering confrontation, the organization seeks to champion countries in the Global South and create forums for international cooperation among emerging economies. This distinction is crucial for understanding both the opportunities and limitations facing the bloc.

Alexander Dugin's analysis provides essential context for evaluating BRICS's current trajectory. He views the organization as merely outlining the contours of a future multipolar world order, where various "civilization-states"—Russia, China, India, the Islamic world, and countries in Africa and Latin America—represent different poles of global influence. Importantly, Dugin acknowledges that contradictions exist between these poles, and that BRICS currently "lacks the internal cohesion needed to propose truly fateful decisions."

The Significance of Absent Leaders

Western media has made much of the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin from the Rio summit. Xi will be represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang, while Putin is expected to participate via video conference.

There are unofficial concerns that this may be due to security reasons linked to international tensions. This would be similar to his approach during the 2023 Summit in South Africa, where his attendance was also arranged via video conference to avoid any potential discomfort related to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Speculation from Western analysts suggests Xi's absence might be linked to the state visit honor granted to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, potentially making Xi feel relegated to a "secondary role."

However, Dugin's perspective offers a more measured interpretation. He sees no "special political connotations" or "particular intrigue" in Xi's absence, given that no "epochal pronouncements" are expected from the bloc at this stage. According to Dugin's framework, BRICS is in its initial formation stage, where "no clear strategic trajectory for BRICS's development can be expected." In this context, the presence of heads of state is "not always necessary," and plenipotentiary delegates can adequately represent their countries' interests.

This view reframes what Western media portrays as weakness or internal discord as natural growing pains of an organization still defining its identity and strategic direction. The "volatility of the global system" requires each civilization-state to "take a closer look at defining its own positions and interests" before fundamental agendas can emerge.

Concrete Opportunities for the Global South

Despite Western skepticism about BRICS's coherence, the organization has developed a substantial agenda addressing tangible priorities for emerging economies. The summit will focus on several key areas that demonstrate BRICS's practical value to the Global South.

Global health cooperation tops the agenda, emphasizing equitable access to medicines and vaccines while addressing socially determined and neglected tropical diseases. This focus reflects lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, where developing nations faced significant challenges in accessing medical resources.

Financial reform represents perhaps the most significant opportunity. BRICS's New Development Bank (NDB) has already funded 98 projects worth approximately $33 billion by 2024, financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects without imposing neoliberal conditions typical of Western financial institutions. The bank's expansion to include new members like Uzbekistan and Colombia demonstrates its growing relevance.

The organization's promotion of local currencies in trade and financial settlements offers member states practical alternatives to dollar-dominated transactions, reducing vulnerability to external financial pressures. This de-dollarization effort, often characterized by Western media as hostile, actually represents a natural desire for financial sovereignty among emerging economies.

Brazil's Strategic Vision for Latin America

Brazil's presidency of BRICS presents unique opportunities for Latin American engagement. By inviting non-BRICS countries like Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, and Chile as summit guests, Brazil signals BRICS's expansion into Latin America's traditional sphere of influence. This approach allows countries to maintain Western relationships while exploring alternatives—what analysts describe as a "brilliant geopolitical strategy."

The flexible engagement system BRICS has developed avoids forcing binary choices between geopolitical blocs. The organization now includes full members (ten countries controlling 46% of the world's population and 41% of global GDP), partner states (nine countries as of June 2025), and NDB members who can participate without full BRICS membership.

Climate and Technological Governance

With Brazil set to host COP30, the summit emphasizes climate action and ensures that developed countries provide adequate climate finance to developing nations. This focus addresses a key Global South concern: that climate responsibilities should be shared equitably based on historical contributions to emissions.

Brazil's emphasis on inclusive artificial intelligence governance and digital sovereignty reflects emerging economies' desire to participate in shaping technological standards rather than simply adopting Western frameworks.

The Multipolar Future

It is possible that Western media's tendency to interpret BRICS as 'incoherent' may in fact simply reflect the natural complexity of establishing a multipolar world order. The most important aspect, in Dugin’s view, is simply that "such summits are taking place at all" and that this "multipolar bloc continues to gather."

As the Rio summit approaches, BRICS faces the challenge of balancing diverse national interests while advancing common goals. The organization's success should not be measured against Western institutional models but evaluated on its ability to provide practical alternatives and amplify Global South voices in international governance.

The 17th BRICS Summit represents not the culmination of a fully formed alternative world order but rather a crucial step in the ongoing process of global power redistribution. For the Global South, it offers concrete opportunities for cooperation, development, and increased international influence, regardless of Western skepticism about its ultimate trajectory.