BRICS 17th Summit In Pics: Expansion, AI, climate, and the global south take centre stage in Rio
From Xi’s surprise absence to bold declarations on AI governance and climate finance, the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil reflects an evolving alliance navigating shifting global power dynamics.
The 17th BRICS Summit kicked off on July 6 in Rio de Janeiro, with a strong focus on climate finance and the regulation of artificial intelligence. Hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Museum of Modern Art, the two-day gathering is expected to conclude with two major declarations—one on mobilising funds for climate action and the other on AI governance. Additionally, the promotion of national currencies for trade within the BRICS bloc is likely to be a key point in the concluding discussions. (Image: AFP)
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BRICS was originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025. Together, the 11 nations now represent approximately 49.5 percent of the global population, 40 percent of global GDP, and 26 per cent of global trade. (Image: AFP)
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This year's BRICS Summit in Brazil saw participation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and leaders from the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. However, the notable absences of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin stood out. While Putin's virtual attendance was anticipated given the ICC arrest warrant against him, Xi’s decision to skip the summit was unexpected and signalled a significant break from his usual participation. (Image: AFP)
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi received with a hug and handshake by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva upon arrival at the 17th BRICS Summit. He called BRICS a "powerful force for economic cooperation and global good" as leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for summit talks. He also hailed the expansion of BRICS as proof of its adaptability, urging similar willpower for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council, WTO, and development banks. (Image: AFP)
PM Modi in his address said the Global South has often faced double standards on development, resources, and security—and has only received "token gestures" on climate finance and tech access. He criticized outdated global institutions, saying they are ill-equipped to handle modern crises like pandemics, conflicts, and cyber threats. Modi stressed the need for timely reform, quipping, “20th century typewriters cannot run 21st century software,” as he urged institutions to keep pace with rapid tech advancements. (Image: AFP)
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US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stern warning on Truth Social for what he described as the "Anti-American policies of BRICS". “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump posted, signalling a harder line against countries leaning toward the BRICS alliance. (Image: Bloomberg)
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BRICS leaders sounded a strong warning over US President Donald Trump’s sweeping import tariffs, cautioning that such “indiscriminate” trade measures could harm the global economy. In their final summit declaration, the bloc expressed “serious concern” over the increasing use of unilateral tariff and non-tariff barriers, calling them arbitrary and unlawful. (Image: AFP)
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At the 17th BRICS Summit, leaders denounced the Pahalgam terror attack and strongly backed India's call for a "zero tolerance" policy on terrorism. BRICS nations stressed the need to eliminate safe havens and curb cross-border terrorism, reinforcing a collective commitment to global security. The "Rio de Janeiro Declaration" outlined BRICS' unified stance on major global issues—including terrorism, Middle East tensions, and global trade disputes. (Image: AFP)
BRICS leaders urged developed nations to take responsibility for financing global emission reduction efforts, highlighting it as a long-standing obligation of wealthier countries. In a joint statement, they emphasized that fossil fuels will continue to play a key role in ensuring energy security for developing economies during the ongoing green transition. The bloc also showed its support behind Brazil’s Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a proposed fund to help protect endangered forests across the Global South. Additionally, BRICS nations criticized the European Union’s carbon border taxes and anti-deforestation regulations, denouncing them as “discriminatory and protectionist.” The group reaffirmed that climate justice should not place an unfair burden on emerging economies within international climate frameworks. (Image: AFP)
![Prime Minister Narendra Modi received with a hug and handshake by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva upon arrival at the 17th BRICS Summit. He called BRICS a "powerful force for economic cooperation and global good" as leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for summit talks. He also hailed the expansion of BRICS as proof of its adaptability, urging similar willpower for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council, WTO, and development banks. (Image: AFP)](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/07/20250707113129_PM-at-BRICS-378x213.jpg "Prime Minister Narendra Modi received with a hug and handshake by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva upon arrival at the 17th BRICS Summit. He called BRICS a "powerful force for economic cooperation and global good" as leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for summit talks. He also hailed the expansion of BRICS as proof of its adaptability, urging similar willpower for reforms in global institutions like the UN Security Council, WTO, and development banks. (Image: AFP)")
![PM Modi in his address said the Global South has often faced double standards on development, resources, and security—and has only received "token gestures" on climate finance and tech access. He criticized outdated global institutions, saying they are ill-equipped to handle modern crises like pandemics, conflicts, and cyber threats. Modi stressed the need for timely reform, quipping, “20th century typewriters cannot run 21st century software,” as he urged institutions to keep pace with rapid tech advancements. (Image: AFP)](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/07/20250707113002_PM-BRICS-378x213.png "PM Modi in his address said the Global South has often faced double standards on development, resources, and security—and has only received "token gestures" on climate finance and tech access. He criticized outdated global institutions, saying they are ill-equipped to handle modern crises like pandemics, conflicts, and cyber threats. Modi stressed the need for timely reform, quipping, “20th century typewriters cannot run 21st century software,” as he urged institutions to keep pace with rapid tech advancements. (Image: AFP)")
![US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stern warning on Truth Social for what he described as the "Anti-American policies of BRICS". “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump posted, signalling a harder line against countries leaning toward the BRICS alliance. (Image: AFP)](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/07/20250705044203_trump-bbb-378x213.jpg "US President Donald Trump on Monday issued a stern warning on Truth Social for what he described as the "Anti-American policies of BRICS". “Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump posted, signalling a harder line against countries leaning toward the BRICS alliance. (Image: AFP)")
![At the 17th BRICS Summit, leaders denounced the Pahalgam terror attack and strongly backed India's call for a "zero tolerance" policy on terrorism. BRICS nations stressed the need to eliminate safe havens and curb cross-border terrorism, reinforcing a collective commitment to global security. The "Rio de Janeiro Declaration" outlined BRICS' unified stance on major global issues—including terrorism, Middle East tensions, and global trade disputes. (Image: AFP)](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/07/20250707112954_BRICS-leaders-in-discussion-378x213.jpg "At the 17th BRICS Summit, leaders denounced the Pahalgam terror attack and strongly backed India's call for a "zero tolerance" policy on terrorism. BRICS nations stressed the need to eliminate safe havens and curb cross-border terrorism, reinforcing a collective commitment to global security. The "Rio de Janeiro Declaration" outlined BRICS' unified stance on major global issues—including terrorism, Middle East tensions, and global trade disputes. (Image: AFP)")
