Rio Declaration: BRICS calls for more equitable global order
Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, the BRICS countries released the Final Declaration of the 17th Summit this Sunday (Jul. 6), highlighting the “importance of the Global South as an engine of positive change, especially in the face of significant international challenges.” These include worsening geopolitical tensions, economic slowdown, rapid technological transformation, protectionist measures, and migration challenges.
“We believe the BRICS countries continue to play a central role in expressing the concerns and priorities of the Global South, as well as in promoting a more just, sustainable, inclusive, representative, and stable international order based on international law,” the document states.
The countries also advocate for peace in response to global conflicts and wars, emphasize the need to deepen economic cooperation among BRICS members, unite in the face of the climate crisis, and promote human, social, and cultural development.
BRICS is a bloc that brings together representatives from 11 permanent member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Several partner countries also participate, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Cuba, Uganda, Malaysia, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan.
Wars
Regarding international conflicts, the countries express concern “about ongoing conflicts” and the rise in global military spending:
“We express concern about ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world and the current state of polarization and fragmentation of the international order.”
The countries condemn the military attacks against Iran, a member of the bloc, and call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“We condemn the military attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran since June 13, 2025, which constitute a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter, and express deep concern over the subsequent escalation of the security situation in the Middle East,” the text reads.
Regarding the war in Gaza, the Final Declaration calls on “the parties to engage in good faith in new negotiations with a view to achieving an immediate, permanent, and unconditional ceasefire; the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and all other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory; the release of all hostages and detainees held in violation of international law; and sustained, unimpeded access for the delivery of humanitarian aid.”
On the war between Ukraine and Russia—a founding BRICS member—the statement says the countries “hope that current efforts will lead to a sustainable peace agreement.”
“We note with appreciation the relevant proposals for mediation and good offices, including the creation of the African Peace Initiative and the Group of Friends for Peace, which aim at the peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement reads.
Cooperation among countries
The final text, titled Rio de Janeiro Declaration: Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance, contains 126 points divided into five topics:
- Strengthening Multilateralism and Reforming Global Governance
- Promoting International Peace, Security, and Stability
- Deepening International Cooperation in Economics, Trade, and Finance
- Combating Climate Change and Promoting Sustainable, Fair, and Inclusive Development
- Boosting Partnerships for the Promotion of Human, Social, and Cultural Development.
With regard to financial cooperation, the document states that the countries will jointly seek to promote a fairer, more inclusive, stable, and efficient international tax system:
“We reiterate our commitment to fiscal transparency and to promoting global dialogue on effective and fair taxation, enhancing progressivity, and contributing to efforts to reduce inequality. Our goal is to deepen global coordination among tax authorities, improve domestic revenue mobilization, ensure a fair allocation of taxing rights, and combat tax evasion and illicit financial flows related to taxation.”
Climate and artificial intelligence
Also prioritized at the meeting, climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) are included in the final document. Regarding AI, the countries recognize that the technology presents an opportunity to boost development but emphasize that “global governance of AI must mitigate potential risks and address the needs of all countries, including those in the Global South.”
“A collective global effort is needed to establish AI governance that upholds our shared values, addresses risks, builds trust, and ensures broad and inclusive international collaboration and access—in accordance with sovereign laws and including capacity building for developing countries, with the United Nations at its center,” says an excerpt from the document.
On climate change, the countries reaffirm their commitment to and recognition of global agreements such as the Paris Agreement—an international treaty adopted in 2015 at COP21 aimed at combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions—and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), whose main goal is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
In addition, the countries express their full support for Brazil’s presidency of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30).
Approved documents
Besides the traditional leaders’ declaration, three other documents were approved: the BRICS Leaders’ Framework Statement on Climate Finance, the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, and the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.
