Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his gratitude to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for hosting the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Modi, who is on a four-day visit to Brazil, highlighted the significance of BRICS as a "powerful force for economic cooperation and global good".
The 17th annual BRICS summit is being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil assumed the BRICS chairship with a focus on ‘Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance’. The BRICS alliance now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The discussions at the summit will focus on political and socioeconomic coordination, identifying business opportunities, economic complementarities, and areas of cooperation among member countries. Brazil's presidency will prioritize Global South Cooperation and BRICS Partnerships for Social, Economic, and Environmental Development.
The summit's agenda includes global health policies, artificial intelligence, and climate change. BRICS leaders are expected to address pressing global issues such as the Israeli war in Gaza and trade tariffs imposed by the U.S.. They are also expected to decry President Trump's trade tariffs, presenting BRICS as a defender of multilateralism. The bloc aims to exert pressure for a multipolar world with inclusive global governance, giving a meaningful voice to the Global South, especially in the trading system.
Prior to the leaders' summit, a meeting of foreign ministers from BRICS nations took place in Rio de Janeiro in April 2025. While they voiced concerns about rising protectionist trade practices, they failed to release a joint statement.
On the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold several bilateral meetings. Following the summit, Modi will travel to Brasilia for a state visit at the invitation of President Lula. Discussions will aim to broaden the strategic partnership between India and Brazil across various sectors, including trade, defense, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health, and people-to-people linkages. This will be the first bilateral visit to Brazil by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades.
Upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro, PM Modi was warmly welcomed by President Lula. The Indian diaspora also greeted him with enthusiasm, with performances including Kathak dance and devotional songs.
The BRICS countries represent almost half of the world's population, 36% of the global land area, and a quarter of the global economic output. The bloc is viewed as a forum for cooperation between countries of the Global South and a counterweight to the Group of Seven (G7). Brazil considers BRICS a useful platform for representing the interests of the 'Global South' and seeks to intensify trade and investment relations with India.
