The 17th BRICS Summit, held from July 6 to 7, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, culminated in a robust Rio Declaration that aims to redefine global governance and championing a fairer world order.
This gathering brought together leaders from the original five BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa—alongside newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Central to the declaration is BRICS’s ambition to amplify the voice of the Global South in decision-making bodies historically dominated by the West. It called for urgent reforms in global institutions—such as the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO—to ensure they reflect today’s multipolar realities
On UN reform, China and Russia notably backed Brazil and India’s calls for permanent UNSC seats, underscoring the need for South representation.
They collectively urged an overhaul of the IMF’s quota and voting systems to boost developing countries’ influence, with a formal proposal slated for the December IMF review.
BRICS reaffirmed faith in a rules-based trade system, denouncing unilateral tariffs and non-tariff barriers while backing WTO’s binding dispute mechanisms and accession of Ethiopia and Iran.
The declaration strongly opposed “unilateral coercive measures”—economic sanctions and tariffs—that it argued undermine international law, violate human rights, and disproportionately harm poorer communities.
Though never explicitly naming the U.S., this position directly countered the wave of protectionist trade policies, including recent threats by political figures such as Donald Trump to impose 10% tariffs on BRICS-aligned countries.
On pressing global conflicts, the group condemned recent military strikes on Iran and demanded an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, with the withdrawal of Israeli forces, hostage releases, and humanitarian access.
Widespread concern was also expressed about escalating global military spending, reinforcing a commitment to peaceful dispute resolution.
The summit reinforced BRICS’s stance on environmental stewardship. Brazil proposed a Tropical Forests Forever Facility to preserve endangered forests, with backing in principle from China and the UAE.
Beyond calls for systemic reform, BRICS pledged to deepen internal cooperation, including through the New Development Bank (NDB) and initiatives to bolster trade in national currencies, reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar.
Read the full BRICS Leaders Declaration here. We have also compiled a Summit Special Report for your convenience.
