Brazil defends cooperation against protectionism at BRICS meeting

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira opened a meeting yesterday with the main negotiators of the BRICS, a group of emerging countries, calling for the strengthening of cooperation in the face of “protectionist policies” that have resurfaced around the world.

“We meet at a crucial moment of profound transformation, where the principles of multilateralism and cooperation are being tested by crises that demand urgent and collective action,” Vieira said.

The Brazilian minister argued that a multipolar world is the shared objective of the states that make up the group and that a rebalanced global system must rest on a firmer foundation of justice and representation of emerging countries.

“We are witnessing the process of deglobalization. Protectionist policies, trade fragmentation, non-economic barriers and the reconfiguration of supply chains threaten to deepen global inequalities,” he said.

“The BRICS must resist this fragmentation and advocate for an open, fair and balanced multilateral trading system — one that meets the needs of the Global South and promotes a genuinely multipolar economic order,” he added.

This BRICS meeting, held in Brasilia, is the first of the forum's heads of delegations in 2025 under the Brazilian presidency, and will serve to discuss the agenda for the leaders' summit scheduled for July 6 and 7, in Rio de Janeiro.

Vieira recalled that geopolitical tensions are increasingly deep, citing that growing inequalities and rapid technological and economic changes are challenging traditional governance structures.

“Long-standing institutions are struggling to adapt, while emerging economies are rightly demanding a more equitable role in shaping decisions that affect us all. In this evolving landscape, the BRICS have a crucial role to play in promoting a more just, inclusive and sustainable global order,” he said.

The representative of the Brazilian Government also praised the recent expansion of BRICS, from five to eleven members, a fact that he considered “a great development”.

“Representing almost half of the world’s population and 39% of global Gross Domestic Product, we are also responsible for half of global energy production. This expanded BRICS holds the promise of a Global South that is no longer merely a participant in global affairs, but an influential and constructive force in shaping the international order,” stressed the Brazilian foreign minister.

The BRICS group was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and in recent months has accepted Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia as new members, although the latter has not yet formalized its membership.

The Brazilian minister also argued that members of the emerging countries forum should continue to promote alternative financial mechanisms, such as the New Development Bank, which he considered to play “a vital role in financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies”.

In addition to reforming global governance, the Brazilian BRICS presidency will focus on cooperation and partnerships for social, economic and environmental development.

“By strengthening Global South cooperation, promoting partnerships for social, economic and environmental development, and defending multilateralism, we can help build a future that reflects the aspirations of the people we represent,” Vieira concluded.