BRICS summit kicks off in Rio with Azerbaijan on list of prospective members

The 17th BRICS Summit has officially opened in Rio de Janeiro with leaders set to review membership applications from Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and other Global South nations.

The two-day event, running from July 6–7 and titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” marks the first high-level meeting of the expanded BRICS bloc following the formal accession of new member states, Caliber.Az writes, citing international media sources.

Delegations from all 11 BRICS member countries are participating: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — as well as newly admitted members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In addition, representatives from a number of invited partner nations — including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam — have joined the discussions.

Russia is represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while President Vladimir Putin is participating virtually. China has sent Premier Li Qiang, and host country Brazil is led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are also attending.

A key focus of the summit is strengthening the Global South’s role in the international governance system. Delegates are discussing reform of global financial institutions — including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — as well as sustainable development, public health, trade, investment, climate change, and the regulation of artificial intelligence risks.

One of the summit’s central outcomes is expected to be a joint declaration calling for reform of the United Nations Security Council and a fairer allocation of voting rights and quotas within the IMF. Other major initiatives include enhancing BRICS as an alternative global cooperation platform, creating a fund to protect tropical forests, and advancing digital transformation efforts.

This summit also marks Indonesia’s first participation as a full BRICS member. Vietnam, which recently became an official BRICS partner, has sent a delegation to Rio. 

By Khagan Isayev