By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on BRICS to strengthen its voice in calling for a global framework that is inclusive, representative and anchored in the principles of sovereignty, equality and peaceful coexistence.
Leaders and representatives from the BRICS alliance are gathering Sunday and Monday in Rio de Janeiro for the group’s 17th annual summit.
The return of Donald Trump to the White House and his renewed tariff threats have also raised concerns for the group.
The two-day talks are hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with trade and investment, financial cooperation, AI and technology, global health and climate action on the agenda.
The summit comes amid rising geopolitical tensions, including the recent Israeli and US strikes on Iran, which has been a BRICS member since 2024, along with the genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the war in Ukraine.
Ramaphosa said, South Africa remains gravely concerned at the deteriorating peace and security situation in the Middle East.
“The recent attacks by Israel and the United States on the Islamic Republic of Iran raise serious concerns of international law, including the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the protection of civilians.”
Ramaphosa said, BRICS needed to step up its role in resolving the current conflicts.
“We must continue to advocate for the urgent intensification of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and ensure sustainable and lasting peace. We remain deeply concerned by the heavy human toll of conflicts in Russia and Ukraine, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Gaza, among others, Ramaphosa said.
“We must find just and lasting solutions to these devasting conflicts. Achieving and maintaining peace and security requires the collective will of the community of nations. Through dialogue, through respect for the rule of law, through the advancement of human rights, through cooperation and solidarity, we can and must achieve peace for the collective good, added Ramaphosa.
Lula da Silva, opened Sunday’s session by reiterating the group’s longstanding calls to reform the Security Council to make it more representative of the Global South.
“BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement,” Lula da Silva told leaders. “With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again.”
BRICS was originally formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining the following year.
It has grown to 11 members, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia — the latest member to join the bloc.
An additional 10 countries, among them Vietnam, Nigeria and Malaysia, have joined as official “partner countries,” a new category introduced at the 16th BRICS summit in Russia.
The bloc, which sees itself as a voice for the Global South, accounts for around 44% of global GDP and more than 56% of the world’s population.
Notably absent from the summit will be two founding leaders, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Putin, who faces an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, will participate virtually, according to media reports. Meanwhile, the Russian delegation in Brazil will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Xi will skip the summit, his first time missing the meeting as Chinese president in 12 years.
According to media reports, Beijing had reportedly informed the Brazilian government that Xi would be absent from the event due to a scheduling conflict. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang is expected to attend in his place.