Brazil has assumed the presidency of the BRICS group of emerging economies at a pivotal moment. As the bloc prepares for its annual summit in Rio de Janeiro in July, the host nation must navigate heightened tensions and conflicts stemming from the aggressive tariff policies of US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With its recent expansion<\/a> and growing geopolitical ambitions, the BRICS nations must balance diverse interests while asserting themselves as a more cohesive force on the world stage. Brazil faces a delicate balance between advancing this heterogeneous alliance and avoiding a stance that might be perceived in Washington as anti-Western or anti-dollar, experts say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The presidency, however, does offer Brazil opportunities: facilitating a joint BRICS stance on climate action ahead of the country hosting the COP30 climate summit in November; pushing for increased Global South cooperation on finance<\/a>, health, trade and artificial intelligence; and establishing a clear agenda for the New Development Bank, also known as the BRICS Bank, led by Brazil\u2019s former president Dilma Rousseff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The upcoming summit on 6-7 July will mark the inclusion of Indonesia, which joined BRICS in January, following the induction of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024. There is some confusion regarding Saudi Arabia\u2019s status, as it is listed as a BRICS member on Brazil\u2019s presidency website<\/a> but is reportedly<\/a> still deliberating over the decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nine nations \u2013 Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan \u2013 have official \u201cpartner country\u201d status, with more than 30 others expressing<\/a> interest in joining. This expansion, which now means that BRICS member and partner countries comprise more than half of the world\u2019s population and nearly 30% of global GDP, was driven<\/a> by Russia and China. Brazil and India showed less enthusiasm, experts say.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNew guests at the table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n