Beyond the myths: Understanding BRICS

Last July, the leaders of BRICS, a political and diplomatic coordination forum formed by countries from the Global South, gathered in Brazil for its 17th Summit. The group, now composed of 11 full members, has recently drawn headlines and misinterpretations. It has been sometimes painted as a bloc designed to challenge the West or to overturn the global order. That view is not just inaccurate, it misses the point entirely. BRICS is not about confrontation. It is about inclusion.

Originally composed without the letter “S,” added later, the acronym BRIC was conceived in 2001 by a Goldman Sachs economist to highlight the rapid growth of Brazil, Russia, India and China. The four countries were labeled “whale countries,” due to their immense territory, large populations, abundant resources and growing economic weight. The term spread from Wall Street to academia and international media. Later, what started as an analytical shorthand turned into a political reality. From the outset, its goal has been to foster dialogue on major international issues, aiming at a more democratic, balanced and inclusive global order.

The first BRICS meeting occurred at the foreign ministers’ level in 2006, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The inaugural heads of state summit took place in 2009 in Ekaterinburg. From the 2008 financial crisis onward, the countries acted jointly in the G20, the IMF and the World Bank, proposing reforms to reflect the increased weight of emerging economies.

South Africa joined in 2011, adding the “S.” In 2023, at the Johannesburg Summit, six new members were welcomed: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. At the 2024 Kazan Summit, leaders created the “Partner Country” category, under which the following countries were included: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan. Last January, Indonesia became a full member of BRICS, followed by Vietnam’s admission as a Partner Country in June, with the announcement made during the Rio Summit, underscoring ASEAN’s rising strategic weight in an increasingly multipolar world. Collectively, the 11 BRICS member countries now represent over 40 percent of the world’s population and nearly 40 percent of global GDP in purchasing power parity terms, a striking measure of the group’s global footprint.

At the Rio meeting, BRICS leaders issued a joint declaration titled “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.” The statement emphasized principles such as sovereign equality, multilateralism and international law. It was not a document of defiance, but one of ambition, advocating a fairer, more equitable world order. They also called for greater participation of developing countries in global decision-making and emphasized that multipolarity offers opportunities for emerging economies. The Global South was highlighted as a key driver of positive change amid global instability, economic slowdown, tech disruption and rising protectionism.

In the financial domain, BRICS emphasized the need to increase IMF quotas and World Bank shareholding for developing countries. Quota realignment should reflect relative economic positions without harming developing nations. On health, the group acknowledged the cross-border nature of health threats and reaffirmed its commitment to equity-driven global health governance. The new Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases was launched, addressing root causes such as poverty and exclusion.

In science, artificial intelligence (AI) governance was featured prominently on the BRICS agenda, offering a Global South perspective and emphasizing development. AI was recognized as a tool for shared prosperity, as governance must mitigate risks and ensure broad access. Global effort is needed to ensure AI governance is inclusive, trustworthy and value-driven. BRICS also marked 10 years since signing its 2015 agreement on Science, Technology and Innovation cooperation. A new Action Plan for Innovation 2025-2030 was adopted to guide joint research, technology development and applications. Brazil’s proposed priorities – AI, quantum tech and industrial innovation – respond to technological shifts and reindustrialization goals. New calls for research and innovation projects were announced, along with Brazil’s proposal for a feasibility study on a dedicated BRICS high-speed submarine cable to boost digital cooperation. Youth and startup engagement were reaffirmed through initiatives like the Young Scientists Forum and the Innovators Prize. Progress was also noted in launching a Deep-Sea Resource Research Center, and collaboration in the humanities and social sciences will be strengthened through an upcoming forum in Russia.

In preparation for COP30, to be held in Belem, in the Amazon region, BRICS endorsed the Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF) as an innovative long-term finance mechanism for tropical forest conservation. The “Climate Framework Declaration” outlines a five-year roadmap to boost climate finance capacity. It calls for multilateralism and respect for national contexts in global issues like development, hunger and climate. The group also expressed concern over efforts to link security to the climate agenda.

BRICS is often mischaracterized as an anti-system coalition, an interpretation both flawed and regrettable. Its actions do not reflect rejection, but rather a call for symmetry and fairness in global governance, a genuine effort to build more equitable societies and foster respectful leadership. In short, BRICS is not anti-Western. It is pro-multipolar.

As Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira observed: “The international order is undergoing significant shifts. Geopolitical tensions, inequalities and rapid technological and economic changes are challenging traditional institutions. Longstanding systems struggle to adapt, while emerging economies rightly seek a fairer role in shaping decisions that affect us all.”

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Gilberto F. G. de Moura is the Brazilian Ambassador to the Philippines, Palau, Marshall Islands and Micronesia.