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Foreign Ministers from the BRICS bloc convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 28, 2025. The high-level meeting focused on enriching the mutual diplomacy and multilateralism as the world faces mounting geopolitical tensions, economic disruptions, and humanitarian crises.

The BRICS grouping, now expanded to 11 countries including Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, gathered in advance of the leaders’ summit scheduled for July this year.

Top diplomats from the member states aimed to unify positions on pressing international issues, including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza and the destabilizing effects of aggressive trade policies under U.S. President Donald Trump.

“We advocate diplomacy instead of confrontation, and cooperation instead of unilateralism,” declared Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, setting a tone of firm commitment to peaceful dialogue.

Calls for negotiations in the Ukraine conflict

The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting coincided with the announcement of the temporary ceasefire in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “three-day truce” starting from May 8 to 10. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the gesture as “a new attempt at manipulation,” highlighting persistent mistrust amid ongoing hostilities.

While BRICS has historically refrained from overt criticism of Russia, one of its founding members, calls for a diplomatic resolution have intensified. Vieira acknowledged the profound humanitarian toll of the war: “The conflict in Ukraine continues to have a severe humanitarian impact, highlighting the urgent need for a diplomatic solution.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the Rio talks and reiterated Russia’s interest in deepening BRICS economic cooperation, while the bloc maintained its non-confrontational stance toward the Kremlin.

The summit’s timing is particularly sensitive, as the United States has labeled this week a “critical” juncture for diplomatic efforts toward ending the Ukraine war. President Trump, who has often projected ambivalence toward the conflict, made headlines over the weekend by shifting his tone following a private conversation with Zelenskyy at Pope Francis’s funeral. “He [Putin] was just tapping me along,” Trump said, in a rare public expression of dissatisfaction with the Russian leader.

Despite this shift, Trump continues to pressure Kyiv to abandon its aspiration of reclaiming Crimea, further complicating the international diplomatic landscape.

Demands for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

The humanitarian disaster in Gaza also received urgent attention during the BRICS meeting. Minister Vieira issued a strong rebuke of Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territory: “The resumption of Israeli bombings and the continuous obstruction of humanitarian aid are unacceptable,” he said, calling for a “complete withdrawal” of Israeli forces from Gaza.

BRICS is expected to release a joint communiqué on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for respect for international humanitarian law and the immediate facilitation of humanitarian access in war zones.

Push back against US tariffs

The summit takes place against the backdrop of escalating global trade tensions, driven largely by sweeping tariffs imposed by President Trump. Since his return to the White House in January, Trump has implemented a blanket 10% tariff on imports from dozens of countries, with China facing duties as high as 145% on key products.

In Rio, BRICS nations reinforced their commitment to rules-based international trade. The final communiqué is expected to defend multilateral institutions and denounce “economic coercion,” without directly naming the U.S.

Debate on BRICS currency

A possible shift away from the U.S. dollar in international transactions has become a recurring theme within BRICS discussions, especially following Trump’s threat of 100% tariffs against members engaging in non-dollar settlements.

However, both Russia and Brazil signaled that the idea of a unified BRICS currency remains on hold. “Talk of transitioning towards a unified BRICS currency was ‘premature,’” Lavrov said in an interview with a Brazilian newspaper. Instead, he emphasized efforts to “increase the share of national currencies in transactions” between BRICS nations.

Minister Vieira echoed this sentiment, stating that Brazil currently has “no plans to create a new currency.” The ministers appear focused on boosting financial autonomy while avoiding abrupt moves that could provoke further economic retaliation.

Climate change on the agenda

With Brazil set to host the COP30 UN climate summit in November in Belem, in the Amazon region, environmental issues were also high on the BRICS agenda. The upcoming BRICS leaders’ summit is expected to include robust discussion on climate cooperation, sustainable development, and environmental protection.

Strategic way forward for BRICS

Formed in 2009 as an alternative to Western-dominated institutions like the G7, BRICS now represents nearly half of the world’s population and accounts for 39% of global GDP. Its growing influence is evident not just in economic terms but in its increasingly assertive global governance, peace, and trade positions.

As tensions continue to flare across multiple regions and the global economic system faces unprecedented stress, BRICS is positioning itself as a forum for stability and multipolar cooperation. Whether its calls for diplomacy and multilateralism can translate into tangible influence, however, remains to be seen.

The July summit will be a critical test of that potential. In the words of Brazil’s top diplomat: “Only through unity and cooperation can we face the immense challenges ahead.”