At the BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio, the absence of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin opened the door for Modi and Lula to lead a new Global South vision. With BRICS+ expanding and digital diplomacy at the forefront, the bloc now rivals the G7 in scale and ambition.
New Delhi (ABC Live): BRICS Rio 2025 Summit: The 16th BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, has turned into a high-stakes test for the bloc’s future, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin absent from the stage. In their place, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are stepping into the vacuum, leading efforts to institutionalize BRICS+ and reshape the bloc’s global relevance.
? A Bloc at a Crossroads
Under the theme “Institutionalizing Multipolarity: Reform, Cooperation, and Sustainability,” this year’s summit features expanded participation, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia as BRICS+ members.
The summit signals BRICS’ pivot from loose coordination to institutional maturity, with critical discussions on de-dollarization, a permanent secretariat, and a BRICS Green Fund led by Brazil.
???? Modi and Lula: Leading the Charge
With Xi and Putin missing, Modi and Lula have seized the diplomatic spotlight:
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Modi championed India’s digital diplomacy—UPI, Aadhaar, and RuPay—as models for inclusive fintech and south-south cooperation.
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Lula pushed for a formal BRICS Charter, green finance instruments, and climate-led development.
Both leaders emphasized repositioning BRICS as the credible voice of the Global South, untethered from Cold War-style blocs.
? Why Xi and Putin Are Absent in BRICS Rio 2025 Summit
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Xi Jinping’s non-attendance—his first since 2013—has sparked speculation. Analysts cite diplomatic cooling with Brazil and Beijing’s growing focus on the Belt and Road Initiative and SCO.
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Vladimir Putin joined virtually due to the International Criminal Court warrant, with Foreign Minister Lavrov attending in person.
Their absence reduces the China-Russia axis within BRICS, creating room for other members to shape the group’s trajectory.
? Strategic Outcomes on the Table
Key issues being negotiated behind closed doors include:
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Formal expansion criteria for BRICS+
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A shared settlement platform for trade in local currencies
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Creation of a BRICS Green Fund for Climate Resilience
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Tech and AI sovereignty via a new BRICS Innovation Network
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A permanent BRICS Secretariat and legal framework charter
? How BRICS Compares to Global Blocs
As BRICS evolves, its influence is increasingly measured against other blocs:
| Bloc | Nominal GDP | PPP GDP % | Population | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRICS+ | $30.8T | 35% | 3.3B | Development, Currency, Climate |
| G7 | $45.9T | 30% | 0.78B | Finance, Regulation, Security |
| Quad | $40.2T | — | 1.7B | Indo-Pacific Security, Tech |
| SCO | — | — | ~3.4B | Regional Security, Terrorism |
| EU | ~$18T | — | 0.45B | Integration, Rule of Law, Trade |
| AU | $3.1T | — | 1.5B | Continental Trade, Peacekeeping |
| OIC | $9.9T | $27.9T | 1.8B | Islamic Unity, Economic Cooperation |
| IOC | < $0.1T | — | 30M | Blue Economy, Maritime Governance |
? What It All Means
This summit isn’t just about optics—it’s about who gets to define the rules of multipolarity.
“The absence of Xi and Putin is a moment of truth for BRICS. If Lula and Modi can channel consensus, they may turn BRICS from a symbol into a system,” says Dr. V. Kapoor, analyst at ABC Research.
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