The Brazilian government has announced that the next BRICS summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025. As the new chair of the bloc, Brazil will lead BRICS until the end of 2025.
One of the key topics on the agenda will be the establishment of an alternative payment system independent of the US dollar, a move that has drawn criticism from former US President Donald Trump, who has threatened steep tariffs on BRICS nations if they attempt to undermine the dollar’s dominance.
BRICS is an intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE. The bloc was originally founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010.
In 2023, BRICS expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, with Saudi Arabia invited to join. Recently, Indonesia became the 11th full member, while Nigeria was designated as a "partner country" under a new category introduced at the 2024 Kazan Summit.
Several other countries, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, have applied for membership, reflecting BRICS' growing influence as a counterbalance to the G7 industrialized nations.
Partner countries, such as Nigeria, will be invited to attend the Rio summit and may participate in additional BRICS meetings based on consensus among the member states.