Has the moment arrived for the Global South to push back against Donald Trump? That is the hope in some countries at the 17th BRICS summit is to be held on Sunday, July 6, and Monday, July 7, in Rio de Janeiro. The event is highly anticipated, given the hike in US tariffs, as well as the war in Ukraine and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
Since 2023, the so-called "bloc" has been steadily expanding. It now brings together 11 countries representing about half of the world's population and 30% of global GDP. Historic members – Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – are now joined by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Indonesia. Also present in Rio will be 10 "associated" states: Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan.
Meticulously prepared by the Brazilians, the summit will nevertheless take place without two major figures: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The Russian president, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, will participate via video link. "The Brazilian government was unable to adopt a clear position that would allow our president to attend this meeting," lamented Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin diplomatic adviser, who specified that Putin would be replaced by his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
You have 83.02% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.