BRICS summit kicks off in Brazil with agenda for peace and global reform

In the heart of Rio de Janeiro, amid the modern curves of the Museum of Modern Art, the 17th BRICS Summit has begun, an event that already marks a turning point on the global geopolitical stage. Under the presidency of Brazil, 21 countries from the Global South are meeting with a clear objective: to change the rules of the economic and political game historically dominated by Western powers.

This Sunday, the summit kicked off with a focus on three major themes: global peace and security, the reform of international financial governance, and the strengthening of multilateralism . This is a direct response to the perception shared by many members: the current system no longer represents the reality of global economic power.

One of the main arguments put forward by the BRICS countries is the unequal representation in organizations such as the IMF and the World Bank . The documents to be discussed at the summit state that these institutions "do not reflect the transformation of the global economy."

And this is no exaggeration: the BRICS countries represent 40% of global GDP and more than 45% of the global population. But their influence in international financial decisions remains limited compared to powers like the United States or the G7 countries.

Although it began with just five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), the BRICS group has expanded in recent years, integrating new emerging powers and strategic allies such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates . They are joined by other players with "associate" status: Cuba, Bolivia, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, among others.

But in this 2025 edition, there are two notable absences:

• Xi Jinping , China's president, did not attend for the first time since 2012.
• Vladimir Putin , President of Russia, participates solely by videoconference.

Their delegations are led by senior diplomats: Sergei Lavrov for Moscow and a delegation led by officials from Beijing .

This is not just a meeting between countries. The Rio summit also includes the presence of key figures from the international system, such as:

• Antonio Guterres , Secretary-General of the UN
• Tedros Adhanom , director general of the WHO

Their presence symbolizes the importance that the BRICS bloc has acquired as a global interlocutor beyond politics and economics, also entering into areas such as global health, human rights, technology and artificial intelligence .

Although Mexico is not part of BRICS , Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente participates as an observer, a diplomatic gesture that indicates the country's interest in strengthening ties with these emerging powers and maintaining a strategic position in the face of a possible realignment of global power.

The Global South, which for years was seen as a peripheral actor in the design of global governance, now proposes a new multilateral architecture centered on horizontal cooperation, without impositions or tutelage.

One of the central themes of this edition is artificial intelligence , not only as a technological tool, but also as a strategic field of economic and military power . BRICS is committed to more equitable cooperation that does not rely exclusively on technology corporations from the global north.

In addition, the possibility of creating financial instruments that reduce dependence on the dollar and strengthen an alternative economic architecture , with greater access to financing for developing countries, is being discussed.

Not everything is harmonious. At the last summit, held in Kazan , Brazil vetoed Venezuela's entry, a move that demonstrated that political tensions also exist within the bloc . However, the overall message remains one of unity in the face of the need for a new, more representative, multipolar, and fair international order .

The BRICS Summit in Rio is not just a ceremonial event. It demonstrates that a significant portion of the world no longer wants to follow the dictates of the old order. With or without the physical presence of its most emblematic leaders, the bloc is advancing its proposal for a more balanced world, where decisions are made not only in Washington, Brussels, or London, but also in Rio, Pretoria, New Delhi, or Jakarta.