BRICS is gaining global traction, with plans for major 2025 meetings under Brazil’s leadership and a vision to rival G20 prominence while championing collaboration.
BRICS Rising: Is It Set to Eclipse the G20 in 2025?
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira has highlighted the growing influence of BRICS, stating that the group is approaching the stature of the G20. In an interview with the Brazilian newspaper Estado de Minas, Vieira said: “Starting Jan. 1, we will chair BRICS and hold major ministerial meetings.” He added:
BRICS has achieved significant momentum and is practically approaching the G20.
During Brazil’s chairmanship in 2025, the country intends to host key negotiations involving foreign ministers and heads of state, aiming to further enhance the bloc’s standing on the global stage.
The BRICS economic bloc, initially formed in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, welcomed South Africa in 2011. It recently expanded to include Egypt, Iran, the UAE, and Ethiopia, signifying its growing reach. Brazilian leadership aims to leverage this expanded membership to organize impactful high-level meetings. Vieira’s statements come amidst a period of rapid BRICS evolution and heightened international interest in its activities.
The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the U.S.—along with the European Union and, since 2023, the African Union.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his year-end press conference this week, addressed the bloc’s objectives and reaffirmed its cooperative nature. Dispelling claims that BRICS counters Western influence, Putin stated:
We are not working against anyone; we are working in our own interests and those of the member states.
Emphasizing the group’s commitment to collaboration, he noted, “BRICS is not about building a confrontational agenda.” According to Putin, BRICS’ appeal lies in its principles of reciprocity and mutual respect, with decisions made by consensus. He highlighted that the bloc seeks to drive global economic growth and adapt economies to future needs. “The BRICS countries and the organization as a whole aim to spearhead forward movement. This is how we operate,” he explained, underscoring BRICS’ role as a platform for inclusive development.
