Brazil presents results of BRICS presidency
The 4th Sherpas Meeting is held in Brasília to bring together representatives of the eleven member countries to review the 2025 achievements
By Rafaela Ferreira / BRICS Brasil
The fourth and final meeting of the BRICS political negotiators, known as "Sherpas," began on Thursday, December 11. The meeting aims to bring together representatives of the eleven member countries to review the year’s achievements. The meeting concludes on Friday, December 12, when the BRICS presidency will be handed over to India.
The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira, evaluated the work developed throughout the year. "It was, in fact, an effort by the entire government, reflecting the breadth of the BRICS agenda and the extent to which our cooperation now goes far beyond the traditional areas of political and financial coordination," he stated.
Projecting the future of the group, the minister emphasized the importance of fostering closer ties in people's lives. "Major international issues will continue to be central to our work, but our societies also expect us to deliver concrete results from our initiatives. BRICS must be seen not only as a forum for dialogue between governments, but also as a platform capable of generating tangible benefits for our peoples," he said.
Multilateralism Challenges
Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, Brasil's sherpa, assessed the results delivered by the Brazilian BRICS presidency as positive. "We achieved the goals we set for ourselves. A large part of this is due to the engagement and hard work of all the teams involved throughout the year," he said.
One of the highlights of Brasil’s BRICS presidency was defending multilateralism, even in a complex global scenario. "We faced an international context marked by mistrust on several fronts and the very questioning of multilateralism. These trends exerted additional pressure on collective action," Lyrio recalled. "However, these trends also underscored the centrality of BRICS as a platform for dialogue, bridge-building, and the articulation of perspectives that could not be neglected," he added.
As a result, the BRICS Leaders' Final Declaration condemned wars, advocated for more inclusive global governance, and reinforced the need to reform the United Nations Security Council (UN). "Our coordination was not just a practical necessity, but a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to multilateralism in a more balanced, representative, and cooperative international order," Lyrio noted.
Balance Sheet
On the first day of the 4th Sherpas Meeting, the results of the priorities determined by Brasil for the year, focused on six areas, were presented: Global Health Cooperation; Climate Change; Trade, Investment, and Financial Governance; Multilateral Architecture for Peace and Security; Artificial Intelligence; and Institutional Development.
Within these axes, three historical declarations were approved by the leaders:
The BRICS Leaders' Declaration on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, which proposes fairer and more equitable access to the technological tool.
The BRICS Leaders' Framework Declaration on Climate Finance pointed to the need to reform multilateral banks to provide fairer financing for countries most affected by the climate crisis.
The BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases (SDDs), which intends to bring together efforts for a more resilient health system in countries of the Global South.
Brasil's vice Sherpa, Ambassador Paula Barboza, said that one of the main messages left by the Brazilian BRICS presidency is that it was a year marked by inclusion and representativeness. "We also recognize that we are living through a moment of great challenges, but equally great opportunities for the group to consolidate itself as a true voice of the Global South on the international stage," she added.
Paula Barboza presented the BRICS presidency balance sheet, which also summarizes the dimension of the event in numbers:
- 220 videoconferences;
- 62 technical meetings;
- 21 ministerial meetings;
- 4 Sherpas meetings;
- BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro;
- Virtual Summit.
India's Presidency
The document presented by Brasil will serve as the basis for the transition of the BRICS presidency transition to India. On Friday, December 12, the last day of the meeting, there will be a leadership handover ceremony and the presentation of the priorities of the next administration.
"Tomorrow (Friday) we will dedicate all our attention to India’s presidency, which will take office. It will be time to pass the baton. It will be a pleasure to do so with the Indian presidency, my colleague and friend. We are very happy to have this moment," said Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio.
The Indian Ambassador and Sherpa, Sudhakar Dalela, stated that the consolidation of achievements in all political and security, economic and financial, and interpersonal and cultural exchange areas evidences the seriousness with which Brasil conducted the BRICS presidency.
"This year was especially significant, as it coincided with the consolidation phase of the expanded composition. The integration of new partners brought a delicate balance, preserving the fundamental principles of BRICS and adjusting to the changes in global governance. The Brazilian leadership has been exemplary," Sudhakar concluded.