The 17th BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro from July 6-7, 2025, concluded with a declaration reflecting the expanded bloc's commitment to "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance." With the theme at its core, the summit saw significant announcements on global governance reform, economic cooperation, climate action, and a unified stance against terrorism.

BRICKS replacing the UN!

BRICS Leaders’ Declaration:

-‘SERIOUS concerns’ about rise of unilateral tariffs

-‘CONDEMN military strikes’ against Iran

-Call for ‘UNCONDITIONAL’ Gaza ceasefire

-WELCOME Indonesia as BRICS member

-‘CONDEMN’ Bryansk, Kursk rail and bridge attacks pic.twitter.com/9fGAOtjIgf
— SlavicFreeSpirit (@SlavFreeSpirit) July 6, 2025

Highlights from the Rio de Janeiro Declaration

Reforming Global Governance

A central theme of the summit was the urgent need for comprehensive reform of global institutions, including the UN Security Council, the WTO, and multilateral development banks. Leaders emphasized that these reforms must be substantial, involving real changes to governance structures, voting rights, and leadership positions to better represent the Global South. This push highlights BRICS' aim to increase the importance of developing nations' interests on the international stage.

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Demand-driven, sustainable BRICS NDB
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Fair critical mineral supply chains
Responsible, inclusive AI – ‘AI for All’
India to lead by example for Global South pic.twitter.com/oo450nmhIs
— Sahil Haq (@sahil_haq86755) July 7, 2025

Unified Condemnation of Terrorism

In a strong statement, the BRICS nations unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism as "criminal and unjustifiable," regardless of motivation or perpetrator. The declaration specifically denounced the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

Leaders called for unified international efforts to combat terrorism, including addressing the cross-border movement of terrorists, financing, and safe havens. They reiterated a "zero tolerance" approach and rejected double standards in countering terrorism.

Climate Finance and Action

The summit saw the adoption of a "BRICS Leaders' Framework Declaration on Climate Finance" and a "BRICS Climate Leadership Agenda." This underscores the bloc's call for advanced economies, global financial institutions, and the private sector to provide "substantial" climate finance for developing countries, emphasizing predictable, equitable, and affordable funding to meet Paris Agreement goals.

Responsible AI Governance

Recognizing the transformative power of artificial intelligence, BRICS leaders endorsed the launch of a "BRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence." This initiative aims to promote inclusive and responsible AI governance, ensuring that AI development benefits all nations and minimizes potential risks.

Deepening Economic and Financial Cooperation

The "Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2025" was welcomed, guiding sectoral developments and roadmaps. Discussions also commenced on establishing a "BRICS Multilateral Guarantees (BMG) initiative" to strengthen financial resilience and mobilize private investment for infrastructure and sustainable development. The bloc continued its push for trade settlement in national currencies to reduce dependence on the US dollar and the Euro, emphasizing this as a move towards diversified trade rather than "de-dollarization."

JUST IN: BRICS to launch a new investment platform connected to the BRICS Bank.

A major step toward financial independence and multipolar global finance. #BRICS #BRICSBank #Investment #GlobalFinance #DeDollarization pic.twitter.com/Bu9h1ybczN
— Crypto News Hunters (@CryptoNewsHntrs) July 7, 2025

Global Health Initiatives

The summit endorsed the launch of the "BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases," reflecting joint efforts to foster inclusive and sustainable solutions to pressing global health issues.

Condemnation of Military Strikes and Geopolitical Tensions

The declaration condemned military strikes against Iran since June 13, 2025, calling them a violation of international law and expressing grave concern over escalating Middle East tensions. BRICS also condemned attacks on infrastructure in Russian regions.

Notable Absences and Indian Leadership

The summit was marked by the notable absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who participated via video link due to logistical and legal considerations, respectively.

This shifted the spotlight to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who attended in person and actively championed the concerns of the Global South. PM Modi highlighted that the Global South has often been a victim of "double standards" in development, resource distribution, and security, urging for their challenges to be prioritized in policy-making. India is set to assume the BRICS Chairship in January 2026.

The BRICS 2025 Summit in Rio de Janeiro has solidified the bloc's role as a significant voice for developing nations, pushing for a more equitable and multipolar world order while addressing pressing global challenges through enhanced cooperation.

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