🇷🇺 Ahead of the BRICS Summit, Centre for African Strategy in BRICS, Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences reviewed statements by African officials in the media, highlighting key topics that concern African countries within BRICS and its partners.

Daria Zelenova, Head of the Centre for African Strategy in BRICS, Institute of Africa, Russian Academy of Sciences, Expert of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia shared with us what does Africa expect from BRICS Summit in Brazil.

🇳🇬 So, for Nigeria, which officially entered the association in the status of a partner country in 2025, the Rio Summit will be an attempt to reach new deeper levels of cooperation with the association, including with the aim of exploring the prospect of full membership in the future. Other key expectations of Nigeria include: strengthening positions in global markets, especially in trade and energy, attracting investment, working on cybersecurity projects.

🇿🇦 For South Africa, chairs the G20 this year, the upcoming BRICS Summit in Rio is a major event in its foreign policy schedule, since, based on the principle of multilateralism, South Africa traditionally views BRICS as a platform for promoting new conditions for a fair multipolar world.

🇪🇬 As a new BRICS member, Egypt seeks to use unification primarily to diversify its ties with the West. Through BRICS, Egypt expects to ensure domestic economic growth and strengthen its role as the leading power of the African continent in global governance institutions, primarily in the UN Security Council. Egypt's key expectations from the Rio Summit are related to the transition to settlements in national currencies.

🇪🇹 Ethiopia is approaching the BRICS Summit with the intention of strengthening economic cooperation. Ethiopia is expected to actively participate in discussions on tourism development and agricultural modernization. Thus, the government's priorities include the opening of new tourist destinations.

🌍 Thus, the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil is perceived by the African members of the association, as well as BRICS partners, as an opportunity to strengthen Africa's position in the changing world order. For these states, the issues of reforming global governance institutions, expanding access to financial resources of the New Development Bank and promoting trade on the principles of equality and mutual benefit are of particular importance.

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🇷🇺 Irina Kuklina, Executive director at the International Centre for Innovation in Science, Technology and Education on the scientific agenda at the upcoming BRICS Summit:

"I really hope that the Summit will raise the issue of the architecture of countries' participation in events and the further development of a multipolar world. First of all, of course, the issues of partner countries will be touched upon. Because if with the participation of countries that are BRICS members more or less the architecture in different directions has been determined, then the partner countries, this year began to show noticeable interest in a number of areas. And, of course, I expect that according to the results of the summit, it will be clear how this interaction will be built further.

If we are talking directly about scientific and technological, innovative topics, then attention will definitely be paid to the innovative component, because it is at the junction of several tracks, several directions at once, and more and more efforts are being made to ensure innovative interaction between countries.

And, of course, the question arises of the formation of new criteria for assessing effectiveness. And it happens in different areas. If we are talking about science, then one of the topics actively discussed and very significant for all our countries is how the effectiveness of research is assessed. Today we use the Western rating system, it is the most common. But each country asks the question "How else to evaluate, according to the standards, criteria and requirements that are used by our countries? Can we build a different metric? " And this interaction has already begun this year and will only gain momentum. It is premature to talk about some kind of universal BRICS system, but at least attention will definitely be paid to discussing how a single BRICS metric can be built.

Well, social issues do not go anywhere. I expect that the topic that was raised during the Russian chairmanship on the innovative and scientific and technological direction - the creation of a working group on social and humanitarian research, this year will also be actively voiced and will be reflected in the declaration."

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🇪🇹 Jafar Bedru, Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), Member of the BRICS Think Tank Council (BTTC) comment ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit:

"Amid today’s complex global crises, BRICS has the potential to be a strong platform for amplifying the voice of developing nations and promoting a fairer global governance system. Strengthening BRICS is vital for enhancing South–South cooperation and addressing shared challenges through collective action.

As the BRICS 2025 Leaders’ Summit approaches, member states are expected to take tangible steps to achieve these goals. A key priority will be empowering institutions like the New Development Bank (NDB) to expand development financing, particularly in areas such as sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, and digital transformation.

Another central focus of the BRICS agenda will be the deepening of economic, trade, and financial ties among its member states. This strategic direction reflects a collective aspiration to reduce dependency on traditional global financial systems and institutions, thereby reinforcing the bloc’s financial sovereignty and expanding its influence in the global economic order. Strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation in areas such as cross-border payments, local currency use, investment facilitation, and supply chain integration will be instrumental in fostering greater economic resilience and mutual prosperity. Institutional development will also be crucial, with a shared commitment to adopt governance mechanisms that ensure efficiency, accountability, and inclusivity as BRICS expands its membership.

As a new member, Ethiopia is ready to contribute constructively to this evolving BRICS framework and help realize the group’s long-term strategic vision for inclusive and sustainable development."

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📖 Word of the Week: BRICS Summit

In the realm of politics and international diplomacy, the term "summit" has long held significant weight. Its origins trace back to the mid-20th century, a time when political communication began to take on a more structured form. A "summit" refers to a high-level meeting, typically involving heads of state or government, aimed at addressing critical issues and forging collaborative decisions.

⭐ Origin

Beyond the world of politics, "summit" means "peak." This imagery evokes the idea of reaching the highest point—in this case, the pinnacle of negotiations. These meetings serve as a platform for leaders to exchange views and align their positions on globally significant matters.

🌍 BRICS Summit in World Politics

One of the most influential events in international affairs is the annual BRICS Summit, where leaders of member states gather to shape the group’s future. Hosted on a rotating basis, each summit concludes with a declaration. The summit agenda is shaped by the chairing country, reflecting its strategic interests.

📊 Chronology of the Summits

➖The First BRICS summit took place in June 2009 in Yekaterinburg, where the first joint documents were adopted—the Yekaterinburg Declaration and the BRICS Action Plan.

➖As time progressed, these summits expanded to include outreach meetings, inviting partner countries and representatives from international organisations and regional integration associations. Notably, in 2015, BRICS leaders engaged with members of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

➖In 2017, China introduced an innovative format known as “BRICS Plus,” which serves as a platform for dialogue with other major developing nations. In the same year, the summit welcomed Egypt, Guinea, Tajikistan, Mexico, and Thailand.

➖The 2018 Summit, hosted by South Africa, further broadened its scope by inviting partners from Namibia, Angola, Togo, Rwanda, Uganda, Senegal, and Gabon. It also included chairing countries from significant regional associations such as Argentina (G20), Turkey (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), and Jamaica (Caribbean Community).

➖Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, BRICS successfully conducted summits in 2020 and 2021 via teleconference.

➖In 2024, the summit embraced both Outreach and BRICS Plus formats, welcoming leaders from the CIS countries and delegations from developing nations across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America—totalling 41 delegations. Notably, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Dilma Rousseff, President of the New Development Bank, were also in attendance.

❕Beyond the summit itself, the host country organises numerous events throughout its chairship year—over 30 different formats—including meetings for foreign ministers, central bankers, and scholars. In 2024 alone, around 250 such events were held on diverse topics at various levels. Stay tuned for deeper insights in our next "Word of the Week" features.

📎 For more information, visit the official website of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia

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🗣️ Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, Co-Chair of the Russian Chapter of Civil BRICS Council, Russia's W20 Sherpa, and Vice Rector at HSE University, from the margins of the Special Session of the Civil BRICS Council:

"Many refer to Jim O'Neill's 2001 forecasts. It was rather a marketing product for wealthy Western men where they should be investing their money to steal more resources from poor countries and reap more benefits. That's all it was. But the idea of BRICS and its similarities, they grew much earlier. And it grew within each country, it had its own history.

Speaking of Russia, we remember of Primakov, his triangle, and it was bringing Russia back from its knees. Primakov came and said that we have to not be looking into the mouth of the West. We have to be realising that we have much more in common with the countries of the Global South. Or we say now World Majority."

📍 Special Session of the Civil BRICS Council took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 4-5 June within the official calendar of events for Brazil's BRICS Chairship in 2025.

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🇨🇳 Professor Lan Qingxin, Head of the Secretariat Office of the China Council for the BRICS Think Tank Cooperation (CCBTC), Director of BRICS Research Center, Deputy Dean of School of International Trade and Economics at University of International Business and Economics, Member of the BRICS Think Tank Council (BTTC) comment ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit:

"From a think tank perspective, this BRICS Summit in Brazil offers a valuable opportunity to advance much-needed reforms in the BRICS mechanism. As the bloc enters the “Greater BRICS Era,” strengthening institutional frameworks will be key to ensuring BRICS remains an effective platform for cooperation in a complex global landscape. We also look forward to meaningful discussions on how to better integrate new members into BRICS structures, so that the expanded group can function cohesively and amplify the voice of the Global South in global governance. This summit could mark an important step toward building a more action-oriented and resilient BRICS."

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❕Interview of Russian Ambassador to Brazil Alexei Labetsky ahead of the BRICS Summit

On the eve of the BRICS Summit, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia Alexei Labetsky to Brazil gave an exclusive interview to the BRICS Expert Council-Russia.

🗣️Q: How do you assess the results of the BRICS Chairship? What are the main achievements of Brazil’s BRICS Chairship, in your opinion, will be presented at the Summit?

Ambassador: We are convinced that the Brazilian Chairship as a whole is successfully conducting its "watch" in the group, the theme of which was declared "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance." Russia considers the upcoming 17th BRICS Summit as an important stage in strengthening the strategic partnership, which is based on the principles of sovereign equality, enduring mutual respect and constructive interaction.

The issues of increasing the use of national currencies in mutual trade operations and the creation of a multilateral independent settlement and payment infrastructure are also actively discussed.

🗣️ Q: What will be the leitmotif of the Summit?

Ambassador: As I have already noted, Brazil's Chairship focuses on developing the interaction of the countries of the Global South and reforming global governance structures. Promoting economic integration, promoting inclusive and responsible management of AI for development, strengthening funding mechanisms to support global efforts to address climate change in coordination with the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), and strengthening the BRICS institutional framework for better governance and decision-making are also highlighted as priority areas.

Of course, an important result of cooperation within BRICS is the successful work of the New Development Bank (NDB), chaired by former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff...

📎 Read the full article on the website of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia

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A delegation of Russian schoolchildren took part in the BRICS summit for the first time

The first ever school delegation from Russia took part in BRICS summit events in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro, said Anton Pripadchev, principal of the Premier school. Together with pupils, they intend to develop international ties with schools from BRICS member countries.

"We came to the forum to establish international ties with local educational institutions. We have already visited Mackenzie University and Rio Christian School, at the stage of signing a cooperation agreement. This is a unique opportunity for both students and teachers," said the principal on the margins of the BRICS Business Forum.

According to the director, the cooperation programme involves a bilateral exchange: pupils from Brazil will come to Moscow and study at a Russian school, while pupils from the Russian Federation will go to Brazil. The exchange participants will live in host families and get acquainted with the culture of the countries not only in the educational but also in the everyday environment. The school near Moscow is also planning to open a Portuguese language course and organise online Russian language lessons for Brazilian partners.

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Lavrov arrives in Rio de Janeiro for BRICS Summit

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has arrived in Rio de Janeiro for a BRICS summit.

The minister will lead the Russian delegation at the event from July 6-7. Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate via video link.

On the sidelines of the summit, Lavrov is scheduled to participate in multilateral meetings, where the heads of delegations will talk about BRICS work in three main areas: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and humanitarian issues. The minister will also hold a series of bilateral meetings.

BRICS plans to hold a summit under Brazil’s Chairship from July 6-7 in Rio de Janeiro. The main topics of discussion will include health care, trade, investment, finance, climate change, artificial intelligence management, peace and security.

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Rousseff: NDB analyses several more applications to join the Bank

The board of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) is currently reviewing several more candidates to join the institution following the recent accession of Colombia and Uzbekistan, NDB President Dilma Rousseff said.

The announcement came at a press conference held after the 10th meeting of the NDB's Board of Directors, ahead of the 17th BRICS Summit scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

Earlier, during her visit to Russia and meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the NDB President noted that Indonesia and Ethiopia's bids were already being considered.

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❕The leaders of BRICS member states adopted the summit declaration in Rio de Janeiro. Key points include:

▪️BRICS countries condemned the attacks on bridges and railway infrastructure in Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Voronezh regions on May 31, June 1, and June 5

▪️BRICS leaders expressed hope that current efforts on the Ukrainian issue will lead to a lasting peaceful settlement

▪️India will host the BRICS summit in 2026

▪️Summit participants condemned the military strikes against Iran, describing them as violations of international law

▪️BRICS members voiced concern over attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities under the guarantees of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

▪️The Gaza Strip and the West Bank should be united under the Palestinian Authority

▪️BRICS leaders called on all parties involved in the Gaza negotiations to achieve an “immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire” in the enclave

🇿🇦 Founder and Chairman of the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA), Member of the Civil BRICS Council Raymond Matlala said that mutual respect is key within #BRICS, enabling countries with diverse cultures and interests to cooperate and maintain peace.

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❕The Civil BRICS Council submits recommendations to be conveyed today to BRICS leaders

During the Special Session of the Civil BRICS Council that took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 4-5 June a Compendium of Recommendations was adopted, focusing on seven thematic areas: health, education, ecology, culture, finance, digital sovereignty, and the group’s institutional framework.

🗣️ João Pedro Stédile, a leading figure in the Landless Workers’ Movement (Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra, MST) and Brasil’s representative in the Civil BRICS Council:

"What we intend to convey is that cooperation must necessarily involve civil society organizations. While governments may engage with high-level political agendas and prominent issues in the current context, it is imperative to build more tangible channels for technological and cultural cooperation, and these can only be forged by the peoples themselves.“

🗣️ Victoria Panova, Head of the BRICS Expert Council-Russia, Co-Chair of the Russian Chapter of Civil BRICS Council, Russia's W20 Sherpa, and Vice Rector at HSE University:

“Civic engagement and popular participation are the foundational support to all debates. This is a significant outcome of our time—an authentic product of our collective endeavor”.

🗣️ Márcio Macedo, Minister of the Secretariat-General of the Presidency of the Republic of Brazil:

"I do not believe in initiatives undertaken in isolation. People are the ones who know their own reality and what they need. Only then can we formulate effective public policies. May this Council engage in dialogue with the BRICS Summit, as we have successfully done in the context of the Social G20".

As a result of the two-day Special Session of the Civil BRICS Council it was confirmed that in October, an additional in-person convening of BRICS civil society would be held, still under Brazil’s Chairship, with the objective of advancing and deepening dialogue following the dissemination of outcomes from the BRICS Summit. Popular movements in Brazil have proposed and are actively organizing an expanded conference, to be held over three days in Salvador, Bahia.

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📎 Executive summary of the Compendium of Recommendations of the Civil BRICS Council:

🕊 BRICS and the Establishment of a Global Public Health Regime
Outlining a comprehensive strategy aimed at advancing health equity, reinforcing public health systems, and enhancing cooperation among member countries. The document affirms health as a fundamental human right and underscores the imperative for systemic responses that address the social determinants of disease, safeguard vulnerable populations, and prioritize prevention and dignity in service delivery.

🕊 Non-Western Strategies for Education in BRICS Countries
Presenting a vision for the development of inclusive, people-centered educational models that affirm the sovereignty, diversity, and cooperation of member nations. Recognizing education as a universal right and a strategic domain for international cooperation, the document outlines structural reforms aimed at countering commodification, strengthening public systems, and enhancing democratic governance in education across the Global South.

🕊 Environmental Crisis, Climate Justice, and Alternatives for Sustainable Development for the Peoples of the Global South
In view of escalating environmental emergencies, mounting geopolitical tensions, and the weakening of global climate commitments, the strategic recommendations aim to advance climate justice and sustainable development led by and for the Global South. The document articulates a people-centered ecological agenda grounded in social equity, environmental integrity, and international cooperation among BRICS member states.

🕊 Culture and Arts for BRICS Integration
Asserting the centrality of cultural cooperation to strengthen BRICS, fostering multipolarity, and advancing mutual understanding among the group’s diverse societies. Grounded in principles of anti-colonialism, cultural diversity, and social justice, the document outlines a comprehensive set of proposals aimed at promoting cultural integration, artistic collaboration, heritage preservation, and inclusive development among member states.

🕊 Financial and Monetary Systems in a Multipolar World
Outlining a strategic framework for restructuring the global financial architecture from the vantage point of the Global South. The proposals aim to advance sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable development across BRICS member states, moving beyond conventional market paradigms to address pressing human, social, environmental, and financial challenges. The recommendations encompass international taxation, trade, monetary policy, financial cooperation, technology, and institutional reform.

🕊 Digital Economy, Digital Sovereignty, Artificial Intelligence, and Governance
Outlining a strategic framework for advancing digital sovereignty, inclusive governance of artificial intelligence (AI), and a human-centered digital economy. Acknowledging the growing concentration of technological power and global disparities in digital development, the document advocates enhanced cooperation among BRICS member states to ensure a just, secure, and autonomous digital transformation, firmly grounded in social justice and human rights.

🕊 BRICS, its Institutional Framework and Respect for Sovereignty in Advancing Global Peace
Presenting a strategic vision for strengthening peace, sovereignty, and institutional reform within the group. The document advocates a multipolar global order grounded in the self-determination of peoples, in democratic governance, and in inclusive participation. As BRICS continues to expand, it must cultivate stronger institutional structures to ensure coherence, transparency, and effective coordination—while embracing diversity and resisting external coercion.

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