The Brazilian government announced that the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. As the new chair of the bloc, Brazil will lead BRICS until the end of 2025, focusing on global governance reform and enhanced cooperation among Global South nations.
Key agendas and geopolitical tensions
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira emphasised that the summit will address crucial decisions regarding development, cooperation, and improving living conditions in BRICS nations. One key topic will be establishing an alternative payment system independent of the US dollar, a move that has drawn criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who has threatened steep tariffs on BRICS nations if they undermine the dollar’s dominance.
BRICS was originally founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining a year later. In 2023, the bloc expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi Arabia also invited. Several other countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, have applied for membership, reflecting growing interest in BRICS as a counterbalance to the G7 industrialized nations.
Recently, BRICS welcomed Indonesia as its 11th full member and designated Nigeria as a “partner country,” a new category introduced at the 2024 summit in Kazan. Partner countries, including Nigeria, will be invited to participate in the Rio summit and may attend additional meetings based on consensus among BRICS members.
(With AP inputs)