Following historic agreements reached during the 17th Summit, the Brazilian Chairmanship of the bloc will continue until December

After months of negotiations and more than 200 meetings, the 17th BRICS Summit concluded with tangible progress across a range of areas. Brasil will continue to lead the group in the months ahead, with new meetings and initiatives already on the horizon

By Maiva D’Auria | BRICS Brasil

The 17th BRICS Summit drew to a close on July 7 at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. Presidents, ministers, and representatives from the world's 11 largest emerging economies convened to sign the Leaders’ Declaration, under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.”

Partner countries Malaysia, Bolivia, and Cuba also endorsed the Leaders’ Declaration, along with two key statements: one on Artificial Intelligence Governance and another on the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases. Their support aligns with the framework that governs BRICS partner engagement, aimed at broadening the group’s global reach and deepening cooperation beyond its core membership.

The Leaders’ Declaration consolidates the outcomes achieved following months of intense coordination, including more than 200 meetings and the creation or strengthening of roughly 200 new cooperation mechanisms in areas such as hunger eradication, climate change, and technology.

But Brasil’s BRICS presidency continues through December. Until then, the country will lead a series of meetings and events under the group’s banner, including the Annual Meeting of the Finance Think Tank Network; the Meeting of the Steering Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation; the Industrial Innovation Contest; the 10th BRICS Young Scientists Forum; the 8th BRICS Young Innovator Prize; and the Technical Meeting of Experts on Naturopathic Medicine.

BRICS 2025: An Overview of Brasil’s Presidency to Date

This was the first summit to bring together 11 full member states and 10 partner countries, along with eight invited nations and numerous representatives from international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the New Development Bank.

BRICS currently encompasses half of the global population, over one-third of the world's landmass, 44% of global GDP in purchasing power parity, and 25% of international trade flows. Across a wide range of meetings—from virtual conferences to technical and ministerial sessions—the group tackled pressing issues such as global governance reform, the strengthening of multilateralism, artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, and public health.

“We may well become the cradle of a new development model. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva concluded the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro with confidence in the paths being forged collectively for the future. The priorities set forth by the Brazilian presidency are aligned with the major challenges currently facing humanity,” stated Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, reflecting on Brasil’s BRICS 2025 presidency. “Podemos ser o berço de um novo modelo de desenvolvimento. O presidente Lula encerrou a 17ª cúpula do BRICS no Rio de Janeiro confiante dos caminhos que estamos trilhando ou que vamos trilhar agora juntos no futuro. As prioridades escolhidas pela presidência brasileira refletem as grandes questões atuais da humanidade”, pontuou o ministro das relações exteriores, Mauro Vieira, em um balanço da presidência brasileira no BRICS 2025.

Over the first half of the year, the BRICS agenda focused on issues of high strategic relevance, including:

Finance

The BRICS Ministers of Finance and Central Bank chiefs reached consensus on three key declarations aimed at advancing multilateralism and promoting economic development among member states: a Joint Declaration; a dedicated document supporting the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation; and a statement on the revision of IMF quotas, reaffirming the group’s commitment to the reform of the international financial system.

Security

There was clear support from China and Russia—both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—for greater representation of Brasil and India on the Council, marking a significant step forward compared to previous meetings.

Brasil also took a coordinated stance in support of a definitive resolution to the situation in Palestine and, in unanimous agreement with other members, condemned the recent military attacks against Iran and the associated nuclear risks.

Space Sector

In recent months, BRICS countries have strengthened cooperation in the peaceful exploration of outer space. Numerous exchanges of experience and initial discussions were held regarding instruments such as the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation Cooperation Agreement, signed in August 2021, and the establishment of the BRICS Joint Space Cooperation Committee. Brasil put forward the use of this agreement as a tool for monitoring deforestation in the Amazon region, encouraging the development of similar initiatives among member states.

The summit also underscored the need to reduce technological disparities among nations, establish guidelines for the sustainable use of space, and strengthen cooperation in the peaceful exploration of outer space.

Climate Change

In preparation for COP30, set to take place in Belém this November, Brasil secured unanimous backing from member states for the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF)—a financial mechanism proposed by Brasil to support the long-term preservation of tropical forests.

BRICS leaders have pledged to lead a global mobilization to engage the International Monetary and Financial System in pursuit of more equitable and effective measures to scale up climate financing. The agreement was formalized on the second day of the BRICS Summit, through the signing of an unprecedented declaration on the subject.

Foreign Trade

Expressing concern over the growing incidence of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), BRICS member countries reaffirmed their support for a rules-based multilateral trading system that is open, transparent, fair, inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory, and consensual.

The bloc also made progress in discussions on the utilization of local currencies in trade and investment, as well as on the convergence of BRICS member countries’ payment systems—initiatives aimed at reducing the costs associated with international commerce and investment flows.

Artificial Intelligence

These meetings addressed the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the future of labor, health, education, and various other sectors. The primary objective remains to ensure that AI serves as a catalyst for equality among nations, while preventing its evolution into a driver of exclusion or deepening global disparities. In line with this vision, BRICS Leaders adopted a Declaration on Global AI Governance—outlining a set of guidelines aimed at advancing the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI technologies.

Health

With an emphasis on advancing health equity, Brasil led an integrated agenda focused on combating socially determined diseases, such as tuberculosis and childhood diarrhea, which affect the most vulnerable populations. This effort culminated in the signing of a BRICS Leaders’ Declaration on Health, reaffirming the group’s collective commitment.

The initiative envisions cooperation in research and vaccine production, establishing an alliance among Global South countries that will serve as a “catalyst for integrated and multisectoral action.”

“The Global South is no longer the periphery. We are at the forefront of defending multilateralism and global governance that fosters peace, combats poverty, and addresses climate change. In the second half of the year, we will continue advancing the initiatives launched during the Summit,” concluded Minister Mauro Vieira.

Translation: Michel Emmanuel Félix François( POET/UFC)
Proofreading: Tadeu Azevedo (POET/UFC)