17th BRICS Summit 2025: 6 and 7 July Latest Updates

• Focus on Multilateralism and Global South: The summit emphasized strengthening multilateral cooperation and amplifying the Global South’s voice in global governance. Leaders, including Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, criticized the collapse of multilateralism and urged reforms to reflect a multipolar world. The bloc positioned itself as a counterweight to Western dominance, particularly in trade and climate policies.

• Response to U.S. Tariff Threats: U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of an additional 10% tariff on BRICS nations for their “anti-American policies” was a major point of contention. The joint declaration condemned rising tariffs as threats to global trade, with leaders like South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and China’s Premier Li Qiang criticizing them as coercive diplomacy. The bloc reaffirmed its commitment to a multilateral trading system despite these pressures.

• Climate and Development Priorities: The summit served as a precursor to the COP30 UN climate conference in Belém, with BRICS leaders, led by Lula, demanding that wealthy nations fund climate transition efforts in developing countries. However, the joint statement noted the continued role of petroleum in the energy mix, highlighting internal contradictions within the bloc on fossil fuel policies.

• Condemnation of Regional Conflicts: The joint declaration called for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and condemned military strikes on Iran since June 13, 2025, as violations of international law. It also condemned the April 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India-administered Kashmir, which killed 26 people, with leaders like India’s Narendra Modi emphasizing global action against terrorism.

• Notable Absences: Chinese President Xi Jinping missed the summit for the first time since 2012, with Premier Li Qiang representing China. Russia’s Vladimir Putin also did not attend, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov present instead. Xi’s absence sparked speculation about China’s commitment to BRICS, though Li Qiang maintained a low profile, focusing on bilateral meetings with leaders like Lula and Ethiopia’s Abiy Ahmed.

• New Initiatives and Partnerships: The summit highlighted BRICS’ growing economic clout, with its GDP in purchasing power parity surpassing the G7’s. Discussions included boosting cooperation in trade, AI, and global governance reform, though progress on a cross-border payments system remained limited. Malaysia, a new BRICS Partner Country since January 1, 2025, participated actively, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promoting ASEAN-BRICS ties.

• Internal Challenges: The summit revealed divisions within the expanded BRICS bloc (now including Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia). Disagreements persisted on issues like oil reliance and unified stances on global conflicts, with some members pushing for stronger positions on Gaza and Iran.

These outcomes reflect BRICS’ ambition to reshape global governance while navigating internal differences and external pressures, particularly from U.S. trade policies