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BRICS Convenes in Rio With Chinese and Russian Leaders Absent

Premier Li Qiang represents China, with Sergey Lavrov standing in for Russia, at a summit testing BRICS unity on de-dollarisation under US tariff threats.

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Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during the 1st BRICS Sherpas Meeting in Brasilia on February 26, 2025.
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Overview

  • China’s Premier Li Qiang and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will fill in for Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as leaders gather in Rio on July 6–7.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s President Lula da Silva will attend in person at the first summit since expansion added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, bringing membership to ten.
  • Delegates aim to build consensus on global governance reform by leveraging the New Development Bank for South-led projects and promoting trade in national currencies.
  • Past disputes over UN Security Council seats and a failed joint communique highlight ongoing challenges in forging unified positions among heterogeneous members.
  • Pressure from President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs amplifies the urgency for BRICS to present a coordinated economic strategy and bolster multipolar governance.