BRICS Members today (6) at the BRICS Summit at Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil – By Indian Prime Minister’s Office/Wiki Commons
| Published July 7, 2025
BRICS leaders set to discuss key global political issues, but questions over the bloc’s cohesion arose as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin opted to skip the summit.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The much-anticipated 2025 BRICS Summit opened in Rio de Janeiro this week with a whimper rather than a bang, marked by conspicuous absences, muted agendas, and a deepening sense of fragmentation within the bloc. Once touted as a rising alternative to Western-led economic systems, the BRICS coalition—now expanded to include over a dozen countries—faced an unexpectedly low-profile gathering that raised fresh questions about its global relevance and internal cohesion.
Putin and Xi Snub the Summit
In a symbolic blow to the summit’s prestige, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping both declined to attend in person. Putin, though expected to appear virtually, skipped the public spotlight and remained focused on domestic recovery efforts after the catastrophic floods in Russia’s Krasnodar region. Xi, meanwhile, sent Premier Li Qiang in his place, a move seen as a deliberate step back amid rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over China’s slowing economy.
Their absence left Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva—this year’s host—in the awkward position of leading a forum without its two most influential members physically present. The stage, once expected to showcase global resistance to Western dominance, instead revealed the fractures and fatigue within BRICS’ increasingly diverse membership.
“It’s hard to take the summit seriously when the most powerful voices in the room are missing,” said one European diplomat observing the proceedings. “BRICS without Xi and Putin is like NATO without the U.S.”
No Strong Declarations, But Plenty of Frustration
While the group did release a joint statement condemning the rise in tariffs—a thinly veiled jab at U.S. and EU trade policies—it lacked the usual firepower or coordinated strategy. The communique also denounced the militarization of space and expressed concern over the escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly involving Israel and Hezbollah. But the declarations were more symbolic than actionable.
Despite recent expansion (with new members like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran), internal differences continue to hinder a unified economic or political stance. Analysts noted that the grouping’s diversity—spanning democracies, autocracies, and oil-rich monarchies—has made consensus-building increasingly difficult.
“The summit felt more like a talking shop than a strategy meeting,” said an economist from South Africa. “Everyone’s dealing with their own crises, and no one wants to lead.”
Middle East Overshadows the Agenda
Adding to the summit’s disarray, rising tensions in the Middle East—with Israel warning of a potential invasion of southern Lebanon—drew much of the international press’s attention away from Rio. The BRICS’ call for de-escalation failed to produce any meaningful traction, especially with Iran now a member of the bloc but unwilling to criticize Hezbollah’s actions directly.
In private discussions, some member states reportedly disagreed over how strongly to respond, further exposing cracks in the group’s diplomatic unity.
The BRICS Currency Dream Fades
Another hot topic that fizzled was the long-rumored BRICS common currency, which has been quietly shelved amid economic slowdowns in both China and Brazil, Russia’s war-related isolation, and India’s hesitancy to abandon the U.S. dollar. With domestic challenges taking precedence, no concrete progress was announced.
An “Empty” Summit or a Strategic Pause?
Observers were left asking whether the summit’s emptiness was a sign of decline—or merely a pause in the BRICS’ long-term ambitions. For now, the absence of bold leadership, the lack of major announcements, and the preoccupation with regional crises suggest a group in retreat rather than resurgence.
In contrast to last year’s upbeat expansion in Johannesburg, this year’s Rio gathering appeared almost ceremonial—less about reshaping global order and more about going through the motions.
Lula and his BFF French President Emmanuel Macron: Brazilian leader between the west and BRICS.
Putin and Xi are absent, with India’s Modi carrying the torch for them.
Putin could not attend the BRICS meeting over the ICC arrest warrant.
Brazil’s Lula da Silva is failing abroad and at home.
Resulting Effects
🔻 1. Loss of Global Influence
Without Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin attending, the BRICS bloc appeared fractured and leaderless. This weakened its perceived ability to present a united front against Western powers like the U.S. and the EU. As a result:
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Western alliances may gain more global leverage, especially in shaping trade, currency policy, and sanctions enforcement.
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Non-aligned countries may lose confidence in BRICS as a serious geopolitical counterbalance.
💸 2. Economic Cooperation Stalls
The absence of momentum means that major economic proposals—like a common BRICS currency or a joint development bank alternative to the IMF—have once again stalled:
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China’s economic slowdown and Russia’s war-related isolation leave little appetite for large-scale financial integration.
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India and Brazil remain cautious, reluctant to jeopardize existing trade ties with the West.
🌍 3. Growing Internal Divisions
The summit exposed sharp differences between member states:
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Iran, India, and Brazil disagreed on how to address the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
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Newer members like Saudi Arabia and Egypt have priorities that don’t always align with BRICS’ original mission of challenging Western dominance.
📉 4. Decreased Media and Diplomatic Attention
Due to:
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The absence of big-name leaders,
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And being overshadowed by the Israel–Lebanon conflict,
the summit failed to attract sustained global media coverage or diplomatic interest.
This weakens BRICS’ ability to shape the global narrative.
🧩 5. Questions About BRICS’ Purpose and Future
Originally founded to reshape the global financial system, BRICS now seems uncertain about its role:
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Expansion has diluted its identity, with authoritarian regimes and democracies pulling in different directions.
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Some analysts believe BRICS is at risk of becoming a symbolic bloc rather than a strategic force.
🕳️ 6. Power Vacuum in the Global South
As BRICS falters:
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Smaller nations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America may seek stronger alliances elsewhere (e.g., the G77, Belt and Road, or regional blocs).
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This opens the door for U.S. and EU outreach to reclaim influence in the Global South.
Bottom Line:
The 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, overshadowed by the absence of Presidents Xi and Putin, exposed more than just scheduling conflicts—it revealed deep fractures within the alliance. The lack of clear leadership, unity, and actionable strategies has sparked doubts about BRICS’ future as a serious counterweight to Western global institutions.
The resulting effects include:
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Diminished global credibility: Without its two most powerful leaders present, BRICS appeared weak and disorganized on the world stage.
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Stalled initiatives: Ambitious goals like a common BRICS currency or a united trade front against Western tariffs remain on hold or abandoned.
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Internal disunity: Divergent interests, especially over responses to Middle East conflicts and trade policies, are straining cooperation among members.
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Missed diplomatic opportunity: With global attention fixed on crises in the Middle East and escalating trade wars, BRICS failed to offer a compelling alternative vision or leadership.
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Increased Western leverage: The summit’s failure to deliver tangible results may embolden the U.S., EU, and G7 nations to tighten economic pressure without fear of a unified BRICS backlash.
In short, the 2025 BRICS Summit did not just fall short—it revealed a coalition at risk of irrelevance unless it regroups, redefines its purpose, and reasserts its leadership on the world stage.
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