Brazilian FM: All BRICS heads of state, including Putin, welcome at July summit

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcome to attend the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro this July.

Speaking to El Pais, Vieira discussed Brazil's priorities during its BRICS presidency, including cooperation in education and health, Caliber.Az reports.

He also mentioned the ongoing expansion of the group, noting, "Expanding the group takes some time."

When asked if Brazil specifically wanted Putin to attend the summit, Vieira responded, "If he wants to, he can come. All heads of member states are welcome guests."

Brazil assumed the BRICS presidency on January 1, 2025, taking over from Russia, which led the group in 2024. One of Russia’s major initiatives during its presidency was the creation of a category for partner states. The first countries to be granted partner status were Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. Indonesia was also initially named as a BRICS partner, but on January 6, Brazilian authorities announced that Indonesia had become a full member of the group. A further announcement on January 17 confirmed that Nigeria had also joined as a BRICS partner.

BRICS, initially founded during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum in 2006, has since grown into a prominent international group. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously emphasized that BRICS is not a tool to counter the West, but rather a platform for global cooperation.

The 2025 BRICS Summit will take place on July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro.

Additionally, it has been reported that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva plans to visit Moscow on May 9 to participate in celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory in World War II.

By Tamilla Hasanova