Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira opened the first 2025 BRICS diplomatic leadership meeting in Brasília on Tuesday, February 25, emphasizing the bloc’s role in promoting a new global order.
Speaking to representatives from the emerging powers, Vieira highlighted the need for a fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable multipolar world amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions and crises.
“The BRICS has a crucial role in advancing a just global order. A multipolar world is not just emerging; it is a shared goal,” Vieira stated. Representing nearly half of the global population and 39% of the world’s GDP, the bloc also accounts for 50% of global energy production.
Vieira underscored the significance of BRICS‘ recent expansion from five to eleven members, including Indonesia as a permanent member.
The meeting, which continues through February 26, focuses on historical priorities such as financial alternatives and reforming multilateral governance institutions like the UN Security Council and the International Monetary Fund.
Vieira noted that these institutions struggle to adapt to shifts in global politics and economics. He called for comprehensive security architecture reforms, citing growing humanitarian needs and fragmented international responses.
BRICS Under Brazil’s Presidency
Under Brazil’s presidency, BRICS aims to address pressing issues like artificial intelligence (AI) governance. Vieira warned against AI development being dictated by a few actors while others are excluded from shaping its rules.
He advocated for a multilateral approach ensuring ethical, transparent AI development aligned with humanity’s collective interests. Trade and climate change also feature prominently on Brazil‘s agenda.
Vieira emphasized strengthening intra-BRICS trade by facilitating commerce and using local currencies for payments. He criticized insufficient funding for climate adaptation in Global South nations, stressing that “climate justice” must guide international discussions.
Developing countries should transition to low-carbon economies without sacrificing development goals. Brazil outlined six key priorities during its presidency: global health cooperation, trade and finance, combating climate change, and AI governance.
Additionally, it focused on multilateral peace system reform and institutional development within BRICS. As the bloc evolves amid its expansion, Vieira reaffirmed its importance in shaping future global dynamics.