editor
Foreign ministers from the 11-member BRICS alliance gathered in Rio de Janeiro this week with a shared message: the world needs less division and more dialogue.
In a world increasingly fractured by conflict, protectionism, and geopolitical rivalry, BRICS leaders are seeking to position their bloc as a champion of multilateralism, fairness, and global cooperation.
At the opening of the high-level meeting, Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira underscored the significance of the forum, noting that BRICS — now expanded to include nations such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia — represents nearly half the world’s population and a broad spectrum of cultures and political systems.
“With this diversity and scale, BRICS is uniquely positioned to advocate for global peace and stability,” said Vieira. He called on member states to lead efforts in renewing multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, which many view as outdated and unbalanced.
The meeting featured ministers from countries including Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov among the key participants. The ministers tackled a wide array of pressing global concerns, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Haiti, and growing trade tensions between BRICS economies and the United States.
A central theme of the meeting was the group’s collective response to what they described as rising economic nationalism and unilateral trade practices — an indirect reference to the escalating trade measures introduced by the U.S. government.
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Brazilian officials said a draft declaration was being prepared to reaffirm BRICS’s commitment to fair, rules-based global trade and opposition to protectionist policies.
Humanitarian issues also took center stage, with Vieira strongly condemning the resurgence of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and the continued restrictions on humanitarian aid reaching civilians. “This situation is unacceptable. The world cannot turn its back on these human tragedies,” he stated.
Beyond immediate crises, the ministers revisited longstanding calls for reforming the global governance system. They stressed the urgent need to expand representation for developing nations, particularly in the UN Security Council. China and Russia reiterated their support for Brazil, India, and South Africa to assume greater roles in the body.
The BRICS push for reforming global governance highlights the bloc’s ambition to challenge Western dominance, but their call for unity will be tested by internal differences and the complex global crises they aim to address.