Lula: “Multilateralism is the only path we should follow”
On the second day of the first BRICS Brasil Sherpa Meeting on Wednesday (26), the President discussed Brasil’s priorities for the group and highlighted countries' historical responsibility to strive for constructive and balanced solutions.
By Franciéli Barcellos de Moraes | francieli.moraes@presidencia.gov.br
“Resorting to unilateralism undermines the international order. Those who rely on chaos and unpredictability distance themselves from the collective commitments that humanity must urgently make. Negotiations based on the ‘law of the strongest’ are a dangerous shortcut to instability and war. In the face of polarization and the threat of fragmentation, the consistent defense of multilateralism is the only path we must follow,” emphasized Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the second day of the BRICS Sherpa Meeting, the first under Brazilian coordination in 2025.
The meeting, which began on Tuesday (25), is taking place at the Itamaraty Palace, in Brasília, and marks the beginning of an ambitious agenda focused on strengthening multilateralism, promoting cooperation between countries of the Global South, and reforming international governance.
While on Tuesday the sessions focused on Cooperation in Global Health, Climate Change and Trade, and Investment and Finance, on Wednesday (26) the focus was on the topic of Artificial Intelligence Governance. In the afternoon, a session on the Institutional Development of the group will close the day.
Regarding this priority, the Brazilian President highlighted that “the increase in the institutionality of BRICS is a step towards maturity” — and towards more efficient working methods to ensure actions that have the greatest possible global impact, especially through the expansion of the group.
Taking into account the full members of the last fourteen years (Brasil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the increase in countries, members, and partners that are formally involved in the cooperation objectives of the Global South is 300%.
"I am convinced that BRICS will continue to be a driver of positive change for our nations and for the world."
Along with the President, the four names from national diplomacy at the session table are Brasil's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mauro Vieira; the chief advisor of the Special Advisory to the President of the Republic [Assessoria Especial do Presidente da República], Ambassador Celso Amorim; BRICS Brasil Sherpa Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio; and the general coordinator of the Brazilian BRICS Presidency, Minister Paula Barboza.
Lula expressed confidence in the role that the group has to play on the national and international stages, as well as the importance of a global alignment towards concrete positions on social, economic and environmental issues. “I am convinced that BRICS will continue to be a driver of positive change for our nations and for the world. Acting in a coordinated manner for the success of the South African G20 Presidency and Brazilian COP30 Presidency is defending the shared future of this planet,” he said.
In addition to the presence of the Sherpas from the 11 member countries, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, and Uzbekistan sent representatives as partner countries. The next Sherpa Meeting will be held from April 24 to 27.
Both the group's schedule of meetings and the speech by the President of Brasil are available in full.