The expanded BRICS alliance has emerged as a potent diplomatic force at its foreign ministers’ summit in Rio de Janeiro, using the April 28 gathering at the historic Itamaraty Palace to challenge the existing international order and position itself as a counterweight to Western-led global institutions.

With 11 member states now representing nearly half of the world's population and 40 per cent of global GDP, the bloc has dramatically expanded its scope since its inception in 2009. The group – comprising Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates – is increasingly asserting its diplomatic and economic clout.

In his opening remarks, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira set the tone for the meeting, highlighting the group's unique position. "With a diversity of geography and culture, BRICS is uniquely placed to foster dialogue, development and stability," he declared, presenting the bloc as a critical voice for the Global South.

“BRICS, as a group, recognises the strategic interests and legitimate economic and security interests of each member, in both their respective regions and around the world.”

The summit confronted two major international flashpoints: the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Vieira called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza strip, describing the continued military operations as "unacceptable". On Ukraine, the minister advocated for a diplomatic solution "based on the principles of the UN Charter", maintaining the group's characteristic and, at times, controversial balancing act over the three-year war between Kyiv and Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on the summit's sidelines, pledging to boost cooperation. Wang described BRICS as an emerging "backbone" of cooperation for the Global South, while Lavrov portrayed the group as "active participants in the movement for justice and equality".

The dignitaries convened against a backdrop of escalating economic tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies, which have roiled global markets in recent months. China, in particular, faces punitive tariffs of up to 145% on many products, with Beijing responding with duties of 125% on US goods.

The ministers are expected to issue a joint statement criticising unilateral trade measures while avoiding an overtly confrontational tone, as some of the founding members, such as Brazil and India, maintain a multi-vector policy and cannot afford to alienate Western partners.

But a notable absence was India's External Affairs Minister, who did not attend due to tensions following a recent deadly attack in Kashmir – a reminder of the thorny issues the bloc must navigate within its ranks, such as the historic China-India rivalry.

While discussions of a unified BRICS currency were, for the first time, deemed "premature" by Lavrov and flatly denied by Vieira, the group is actively exploring ways to reduce dependence on the US dollar. Plans floated at last year's Kazan summit focus on increasing the share of national currencies in transactions between member states, a move that has already drawn sharp warnings from Trump, who has threatened 100% tariffs on BRICS countries were they to ditch the “mighty dollar” as reserve currency.

Climate finance stood out as a critical agenda item, with Brazil insisting that wealthy nations must bear the primary responsibility for funding climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. The country, whose Amazonian city of Belem will host the UN COP30 climate conference in November, is vying to become a champion of developing world interests just as the new US administration abandons sustainability targets to pursue climate change denialism.

Yet most crucially, the foreign ministers’ gathering laid bare the bloc's growing ambitions, as Chinese officials hailed BRICS as a burgeoning mechanism committed to “safeguarding world peace, promoting common development and improving global governance".

The Rio summit, scheduled for July 6-7, is set to spark an inflexion point in global geopolitics. What began as an economic grouping has slowly evolved into a powerful diplomatic bloc capable of defying established international norms. As traditional power structures show signs of strain amid a renewed US isolationist push, BRICS is emerging as a formidable voice for the Global South, offering an enticing multipolar alternative to flailing Western-centric global governance.