BRICS: Brazil

The 17th BRICS summit will be held on 6–7 July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Let’s refresh our memories on who is who, as we’ve seen almost nothing from BRICS since the Kazan Summit.

The eleven BRICS Member countries:  Brasil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran.

The Partner Countries:  According to the mandate agreed upon through the Johannesburg Declaration, the leaders approved the creation of the BRICS partner country category during the Kazan Summit in 2024. The BRICS partner countries are: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

BRICS serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for countries from the Global South and for coordination in the most diverse areas.

Brazil is holding the chair only for half the year.  Pepe Escobar at the time suggested that this is not enough time to really do anything, and I suggested Thank Heavens, Brazil will only be in the chair for a short time.  We know that Brazil insisted on inviting Argentina to the membership during the Johannesburg summit, and Argentine declined.  Then Brazil did not stand for Venezuela during the Kazan summit to be invited to the members.  This angered most of us.

Watching the development of the Brazilian preparation for the Leader’s summit in July, it is clear that Brazil is running the preparation as if it is the G20.  The Sherpas’ preparatory meetings are soft.  I can find only one econonic and financial preparatory meeting, and up to now.  The only international organization invited, is the New Development Bank (NDB) , commonly known as the BRICS bank.  Perhaps more work is in progress, but I don’t see it.

This was the opening of the first Sherpa meeting:

In the run-up to the Johannesburg summit, the Sherpas communicated well, and one could follow their preparatory work.

In Brazil we have this:  3 Bulletins, all published in April

3rd Bulletin:

The leading Braazilian BRICS sherpa in the beginning of April presented this press interview:  As you read it, it becomes clear that Brazil is doing Brazil’s work, and little of BRICS work:

Report by Leandro Molina / leandro.molina@presidencia.gov.br / Voiceover: Nycolas Verly

Reporter: The Brazilian government has announced that Ambassador Mauricio Carvalho Lyrio will be the country’s chief negotiator at the BRICS. Lyrio will serve as Sherpa during Brasil’s temporary presidency of the group. Having held the same role at the G20 last year, the ambassador will be responsible for coordinating and organizing the agenda of technical and ministerial meetings throughout the first half of 2025. This appointment highlights Mauricio Lyrio’s strategic role and experience in major international negotiations, with a focus on strengthening Brasil’s position in multilateral relations.

In this exclusive interview, Ambassador and Sherpa Mauricio Lyrio talks about the increasingly dynamic international scenario in which Brasil has played a fundamental role in strengthening alliances among emerging economies.

Reporter: What is the BRICS and what is its role on the global stage?

Mauricio Lyrio: It is a group in which there were originally four countries: Brasil, China, India and Russia. In 2011, South Africa was incorporated. So, today, the BRICS actually harbors 11 countries, all of which are important in the developing world and have the capacity to improve cooperation so that they can all overcome their issues of lack of development in various areas.

Reporter: Has the Brazilian Presidency of BRICS already established its priorities?

Mauricio Lyrio: Some of them have already been defined, such as social and economic development, with an emphasis on combating hunger and poverty, in addition to strengthening cooperation in health, since many diseases affect the countries in the group more than others; economic partnership, expanding trade, investment and financial cooperation, with emphasis on the BRICS Bank and financing of sustainable infrastructure; climate change, with Brasil leading negotiations for climate financing and coordinating efforts for COP30; and artificial intelligence, ensuring that its application contributes to reducing inequalities and boosting sustainable development.

Reporter: How does the BRICS see the future of sustainable trade and investment?

Mauricio Lyrio: The BRICS has made progress in the area of ​​financial and trade cooperation. The BRICS Bank, for example, was created to finance infrastructure projects, including green initiatives. The group is also focused on reducing trade costs among its members and expanding investments, especially in sustainable sectors. Cooperation in trade and investment is one of the areas with the greatest potential for the BRICS in the future.

Reporter: How does the strengthening of the BRICS directly impact people’s lives?

Mauricio Lyrio: International cooperation, as in the case of the G20 and the BRICS, is fundamental to Brasil’s development. Through initiatives such as the negotiation of the Mercosur-European Union agreement, the goal is to promote economic, social, and environmental development. Although it is challenging to connect international negotiations with people’s daily lives, Brazilian foreign policy prioritizes making these negotiations more concrete and objective to generate real and impactful results in the lives of the Brazilian population.

Reporter: Finally, what is your message to Brazilians about what to expect from the BRICS under the Brazilian presidency?

Mauricio Lyrio: My message is that Brasil is once again bringing a negotiation of great importance to the country. This group represents a unique characteristic of Brasil: the ability to dialogue with all countries in a constructive and conflict-free manner. This virtue allows Brasil to build bridges and develop diplomacy at a crucial moment for the world. The BRICS is, without a doubt, focused on the interests of its citizens and, in this context, Brasil’s role is to represent the most diverse groups, whether among rich or poor, tropical or temperate countries, on different continents. Consensus is the basis for all these groups.

2nd Bulletin

Report by Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes | francieli.moraes@presidencia.gov.br | Voiceover: Rebeca Rodrigues

Reporter: In accordance  to the BRICS Terms of Reference, cooperation among nations is structured in three pillars: Politics and Security, Economy and Finances, and Cultural and Civil Society Exchange. The latter will be highlighted during the Brazilian Presidency through the promotion of the People to People (P2P) program, the axis that fosters the social participation of the group countries.

Some meetings in this segment have already taken place in Brasília this year, such as the Youth Group and Think Tanks. However, one of the key distinctions of BRICS Brasil’s social participation agenda is set for April 24–27, when the group’s second Sherpas Meeting will be held. Traditionally reserved for the countries’ diplomatic leaders, this meeting will feature an unprecedented initiative by Brasil’s coordination: for the first time, civil society organizations will have a seat at the table.

Gustavo Westmann, head of the International Advisory to the Presidency of the Republic (Assessoria Internacional da Secretaria Geral da Presidência da República /SG-PR) and P2P coordinator, explained that this move ensures the proposals from grassroots movements, trade unions, and representatives from business, academic, and parliamentary sectors will be heard. The goal is to give a voice to the diverse stakeholders within the social pillar of the Global South cooperation group.

Gustavo Westmann: It is increasingly clear that civil society is no longer content with just being present—they want to have an impact, to truly be part of the conversation. This is a global trend, and in Brasil, it is especially strong under President Lula’s leadership,” said the diplomat.

Reporter: During his participation at the first Sherpas Meeting of the BRICS, the president Lula said.

President Lula: The social pillar ensures that the seeds we plant will bear fruit in our societies. Gathering leaders every year is not sufficient if we are not able to listen to the aspirations of our citizens. The engagement groups involving entrepreneurial women, business people, youth, parliamentarians, unions, academics, and civil society will have full support from the Brazilian Presidency.

Reporter: The BRICS Civil Council will also convene in Brazil this year. Launched last year, the organization enhanced civil society participation by introducing a higher level of institutionalization. The councils are the most influential platforms within the P2P structure, preceding the forums and thematic meetings. The other three established councils are Youth, Think Tanks, and Business.

1st Bulletin:

BRICS Brasil Bulletin #01 – BRICS is not “anti-West” but strives for geopolitical balance, says Brazilian ambassador

One of the founders of BRICS and current special advisor to the Presidency of Brasil for International Affairs, Celso Amorim reiterates the role of the group as a multilateral alternative. Amorim took part in the 10th BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue held in Brasília this week. Listen to the report and learn more.

Report by Leandro Molina | leandro.molina@presidencia.gov.br | Voiceover: Laura Carrasco Frederico

Reporter: The tenth edition of the BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue took place over two days of intense discussions at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília. The priority discussions included best practices in foreign policy planning, and an analysis of the most recent activities of the Policy Planning Offices of each country in the group.

One of the participants was Ambassador Celso Amorim, current special advisor to the Presidency of Brasil for International Affairs and one of the founders of BRICS. Amorim observed that the BRICS Foreign Policy Planning Dialogue — result of a proposal made by the Brazilian presidency of the group in 2014 — is a milestone in informal discussions between the ministries of Foreign Affairs of member countries. Amorim mentioned that the first event of this nature was held in 2015, in Russia, and that, since then, the Dialogue has been held annually, focusing on the needs and priorities of the Global South.

When revisiting the origins of the group, Ambassador Celso Amorim reiterated the role of BRICS, denying claims that it would be an “anti-West” alliance.

Celso Amorim: We are not ‘anti’. We are pro-development, pro-multilateralism and pro-social justice.

Reporter: In January 2025, Indonesia became a full member of BRICS. This was the first expansion of the group under the Brazilian presidency, which began on January 1. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores/MRE) welcomed Indonesia, highlighting the country as “the largest economy in Southeast Asia” and its alignment with BRICS objectives.

Indonesian Ambassador Spika Tutuhatunewa, representing the Foreign Policy Strategy Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed enthusiasm for the country’s recent accession to BRICS. She spoke of the importance of multilateral conversations during her participation in the BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue in Brasilia.

Spika Tutuhatunewa: We are very excited to become a member of BRICS, also very excited to participate in this dialogue. We learn firsthand about what is the positions of each country, each member of the BRICS and the delegation, and also about their take on the development in their own region, but also comments on the other regions, which is for us this is an extremely important and also we are very happy being part of the discussion today.

Reporter: The meeting took place at a time when BRICS is expanding from five to 11 members, and when the group is increasingly taking a leading role in debates on the multipolar order, trade in local currencies, and reform of institutions such as the UN and the IMF. Brasil, which chairs BRICS, has strengthened its role as a bridge between the Global South and emerging economies, aligning itself with issues such as international peace and sustainable development.

You may see the various meetings on the calendar but you will also miss high level economic input.