Mauricio Lyrio: “The BRICS is essential to strengthening emerging economies and combating inequalities”

Appointed as Sherpa by the Brazilian government, Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio is going to coordinate the BRICS agenda until the Leaders Summit. In an exclusive interview, Lyrio addressed some of the Brazilian Presidency’s priorities in 2025.

By Leandro Molina (leandro.molina@presidencia.gov.br)

The Brazilian government has announced that Ambassador Mauricio Carvalho Lyrio will be the country's chief negotiator at the BRICS. Lyrio will serve as Sherpa during Brasil’s temporary presidency of the group. Having held the same role at the G20 last year, the ambassador will be responsible for coordinating and organizing the agenda of technical and ministerial meetings throughout the first half of 2025. This appointment highlights Mauricio Lyrio's strategic role and experience in major international negotiations, with a focus on strengthening Brasil’s position in multilateral relations.

The BRICS is composed of 11 full members – In addition to Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates have also joined the bloc. In December 2024, the then Russian BRICS Presidency announced the entry of Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan as partner countries, effective as of January 1, 2025. Also in January, Nigeria formally accepted the invitation to become a BRICS partner country.

In this exclusive interview, Ambassador and Sherpa Mauricio Lyrio talks about the increasingly dynamic international scenario in which Brasil has played a fundamental role in strengthening alliances among emerging economies.

BRICS Brasil website: Ambassador, how did you become a BRICS Sherpa, and what is the connection between the BRICS and the G20 — two groups that have gained increasing prominence in discussions about the future of the global economy?

Mauricio Lyrio: I am a career diplomat, an ambassador — and, as secretary of Economic and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I was already in charge of the G20 field, and also of trade and financial negotiations. In this capacity, I was invited to take on the role of Brasil's Sherpa at the BRICS, since we now have the Brazilian Presidency of the group. The BRICS, in this respect, is very similar to the G20. Each country holds the presidency for one year, and now it is Brasil's turn.

BRICS Brasil website: What is the BRICS and what is its role on the global stage?

Mauricio Lyrio: It is a group in which there were originally four countries: Brasil, China, India and Russia. In 2011, South Africa was incorporated. So, today, the BRICS actually harbors 11 countries, all of which are important in the developing world and have the capacity to improve cooperation so that they can all overcome their issues of lack of development in various areas. This is the main purpose, and Brasil assumes the presidency with the objective of strengthening the economic, social, and environmental development aspect, which is a hallmark of Brazilian foreign policy, and also a characteristic of the BRICS. Brasil maintains good international relations and participates in groups such as the G7 and the BRICS. President Lula is invited to these international forums due to the importance of Brasil and his role as a statesman. By assuming the presidency, Brasil is striving to strengthen economic, social, and environmental development, in line with its foreign policy.

BRICS Brasil website: Has the Brazilian Presidency of BRICS already established its priorities?

Mauricio Lyrio: Some of them have already been defined, such as social and economic development, with an emphasis on combating hunger and poverty, in addition to strengthening cooperation in health, since many diseases affect the countries in the group more than others; economic partnership, expanding trade, investment and financial cooperation, with emphasis on the BRICS Bank and financing of sustainable infrastructure; climate change, with Brasil leading negotiations for climate financing and coordinating efforts for COP30; and artificial intelligence, ensuring that its application contributes to reducing inequalities and boosting sustainable development. Brasil is striving to integrate these agendas, reinforcing its commitment to economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental preservation within the BRICS.

BRICS Brasil website: Regarding rumors that the BRICS is an anti-American bloc, what do you have to say?

Mauricio Lyrio: This view is completely wrong. The BRICS was created to foster the development of developing countries, not as an antagonist to rich countries. The growth of the BRICS has generated positive effects for the international economy, including for rich countries. The G20, for example, was created after the 2008 financial crisis, to integrate developing countries into global discussions, and the BRICS countries play a key role in this context. The goal is for everyone, rich and developing, to cooperate to solve global problems such as the climate crisis, poverty, and health.

BRICS Brasil website: How are the BRICS countries addressing climate change, and what are the strategies for financing green initiatives?

Mauricio Lyrio: Climate change is an urgent issue, and the BRICS has been actively addressing it. One of the biggest challenges is financing the energy transition in developing countries which need financial support to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and adopt cleaner energy sources. The BRICS is working towards a joint position to pressure rich countries to fulfill their climate finance commitments, since they have historically been the most responsible for CO2 emissions. COP30, which will take place in November in Brasil, will be an opportunity to align the BRICS countries around a common strategy to combat climate change.

BRICS Brasil website: What are the BRICS’ perspectives regarding artificial intelligence?

Mauricio Lyrio: Artificial intelligence is a central topic for the BRICS, with great potential to positively impact fields such as health, combating climate change, and education. However, it is also necessary to be aware of the risks, such as job replacement and the proliferation of fake news. The BRICS is working to create international governance to ensure that artificial intelligence is used ethically, and to solve global problems such as poverty and disease.

BRICS Brasil website: How can the BRICS help developing countries face health problems?

Mauricio Lyrio: The BRICS has great potential to strengthen cooperation in the health area, especially in combating neglected tropical diseases and other diseases that affect developing countries more. The BRICS countries are major producers of vaccines and medicines, and we can use this potential to face these challenges. Brasil, for example, has a strong pharmaceutical industry and is a leader in vaccine production. Taking advantage of these capabilities to combat diseases such as tuberculosis, which is more prevalent in developing countries, is a priority for the group.

BRICS Brasil website: How does the BRICS see the future of sustainable trade and investment?

Mauricio Lyrio: The BRICS has made progress in the area of ​​financial and trade cooperation. The BRICS Bank, for example, was created to finance infrastructure projects, including green initiatives. China, for example, is a leader in green technologies such as electric cars and solar panels, and this expertise can be shared among the BRICS countries. The group is also focused on reducing trade costs among its members and expanding investments, especially in sustainable sectors. Cooperation in trade and investment is one of the areas with the greatest potential for the BRICS in the future.

BRICS Brasil website: What is Brasil's perspective on the institutional strengthening of the BRICS and its impact on international relations?

Mauricio Lyrio: The Brazilian presidency of the BRICS comes at a time of transformation for the group, which has grown from five to 11 member countries in 2023. Moreover, the category of partner countries was created in 2024. With this expansion, its institutional methods and mechanisms must be improved to ensure efficient functioning. Brasil considers this transition a priority, working to strengthen the BRICS governance and adapt its structures to the new composition.

BRICS Brasil Website: How does the strengthening of the BRICS directly impact people's lives?

Mauricio Lyrio: International cooperation, as in the case of the G20 and the BRICS, is fundamental to Brasil's development. Through initiatives such as the negotiation of the Mercosur-European Union agreement, the goal is to promote economic, social, and environmental development. The fight against hunger and tropical diseases — such as dengue and chikungunya — directly affects the lives of the Brazilian population. Diplomacy, through international cooperation, facilitates access to resources and technologies, such as vaccines in the BRICS, bringing concrete benefits to the population. Artificial intelligence can also be an ally in combating challenges such as climate change and improving health, an issue in which Brazilian foreign policy works to generate direct and impactful results in people's daily lives. Although it is challenging to connect international negotiations with people's daily lives, Brazilian foreign policy prioritizes making these negotiations more concrete and objective to generate real and impactful results in the lives of the Brazilian population.

BRICS Brasil website: Is there an opportunity for social participation in the BRICS, as there was in the G20?

Mauricio Lyrio: Yes, we are coordinating this with the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, which did an excellent job in the G20, especially with the G20 Social, which was a great success. The Sherpas also received contributions from society at various events. Therefore, this has always been a priority to the Brazilian government: not only to listen, but to interact more directly with society in all negotiations.

BRICS Brasil website: Finally, what is your message to Brazilians about what to expect from the BRICS under the Brazilian presidency?

Mauricio Lyrio: My message is that Brasil is once again bringing a negotiation of great importance to the country. This group represents a unique characteristic of Brasil: the ability to dialogue with all countries in a constructive and conflict-free manner — something that few countries are able to do. This virtue allows Brasil to build bridges and develop diplomacy at a crucial moment for the world. Just as we had a strong participation from society in the G20, it is essential that society also be involved in the Brazilian Presidency of the BRICS, strengthening Brasil's external positions and ensuring that the results of the negotiations bring direct benefits to the population. The BRICS is, without a doubt, focused on the interests of its citizens and, in this context, Brasil’s role is to represent the most diverse groups, whether among rich or poor, tropical or temperate countries, on different continents. Consensus is the basis for all these groups.