[Answered] The 17th BRICS Summit’s cohesion reflects efforts to build global resilience. Analyze BRICS’s evolving role in shaping a multipolar world order and addressing developmental challenges amidst geopolitical shifts.

Introduction

The 17th BRICS Summit in Rio reaffirmed the group’s commitment to global resilience. Amid rising multipolarity and geopolitical upheavals, BRICS is redefining its role in development, diplomacy, and economic realignment.

BRICS in Transition: A Bigger Table, Bolder Agenda

1. From its origins in 2006 as a coalition of fast-growing economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (joined in 2010) — BRICS has gradually evolved into a platform for challenging the West-dominated global order.
2. The 17th Summit in Rio de Janeiro (2025), the first to include new entrants such as Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, Iran, and Indonesia, demonstrated the grouping’s ambition to institutionalize a multipolar global framework.
3. With these additions, BRICS now represents over 50% of the global population, about 40% of global GDP (PPP), and 25% of global trade.

BRICS and the Multipolar World Order

1. Strategic Autonomy and Global Governance Reform: BRICS has consistently called for democratization of global institutions like the UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank. The Rio Declaration endorsed a greater role for India and Brazil in global governance, echoing long-standing demands for reform.
2. De-dollarisation and Financial Sovereignty: While India maintains a cautious stance, other members, especially Russia and Brazil, are championing currency diversification and trade in local currencies. The BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement and discussions on a common settlement mechanism signal long-term ambitions to challenge the dollar’s hegemony.
3. South-South Solidarity: With more Global South nations onboard, BRICS is positioned as an alternative to Western blocs like G7. The Rio Summit condemned the Israeli strikes on Gaza, U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, and retaliatory tariffs, asserting diplomatic independence from U.S.-led narratives.

Addressing Developmental Challenges

1. Energy and Food Security: BRICS countries, many of whom are resource-rich, have committed to collaborative energy transition, particularly in renewables. The BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform focuses on technology sharing and green finance.
2. Climate Change and Sustainability: With the Global South disproportionately affected by climate shocks, BRICS calls for climate justice, fair finance, and equitable carbon budgeting — seen in the Rio statement’s focus on WTO reform to support sustainable development.
3. Health and Pandemic Preparedness: The group’s push for vaccine equity and joint production during COVID-19 remains a blueprint for future public health cooperation, especially via the BRICS Vaccine R&D Center and BRICS Health Ministers’ meetings.
4. Infrastructure and Digital Cooperation: Through the New Development Bank (NDB), BRICS funds critical infrastructure in member and partner countries. Digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and fintech cooperation are part of its expanding economic agenda.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite its cohesion at the Rio Summit, internal divergences persist:

1. India-China border tensions, Russia’s Ukraine conflict, and divergent views on U.S. relations hamper unified action.
2. Absence of joint communiqués, as seen in the April 2025 BRICS FM meeting, reflect these undercurrents.
3. 3. However, the absence of China and Russia at the Rio Summit allowed non-P5 countries like India and Brazil to shape a Global South-centric agenda, leveraging their moral authority and development focus.

Conclusion

The 17th BRICS Summit affirmed a shared vision for a multipolar, equitable global order. As geopolitical realignments deepen, BRICS must synergize internal diversity to lead development and democratic multilateralism.