Brazil hosted the first BRICS Sherpas meeting under its presidency in Brasilia on February 24-25, involving representatives from all 11 member countries. The meeting established an agenda focused on strengthening multilateralism and promoting cooperation among Global South nations ahead of the upcoming summit in Rio de Janeiro. Highlights included speeches from Brazilian officials on the significance of the bloc and discussions on local currency payment options to enhance economic integration.
The city of Brasilia recently hosted the inaugural BRICS Sherpas meeting under Brazil’s presidency on February 24-25. This gathering took place at the Itamaraty Palace and included representatives from all 11 BRICS member countries, laying the foundation for the upcoming summit in Rio de Janeiro scheduled for July 6-7. The agenda emphasized enhancing multilateralism, fostering cooperation among Global South nations, and reforming international governance structures to better serve developing countries.
In an opening address, Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira highlighted the bloc’s significance amid substantial global changes. “It is a great honour to welcome you to this inaugural meeting of the Brazilian BRICS Presidency,” he stated. He stressed that the response to the crisis of multilateralism is increased multilateralism that is more inclusive, affirming that BRICS has a crucial role in creating a fairer, sustainable world order.
This meeting marked the first since the substantial expansion of BRICS, including nations such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran, to the original members of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Under Brazilian leadership, the priority will focus on further collaboration with the Global South and emphasize social, economic, and environmental development across six key areas: health, trade, climate change, artificial intelligence, multilateral security reform, and institutional fortification of the bloc.
Ambassador Celso Amorim, serving as the Head Adviser to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, articulated the relevance of BRICS during a recent interview. He portrayed the bloc as an opportunity for developing nations to unify on multiple fronts, such as energy and security initiatives. Amorim firmly countered claims of an anti-Western stance, indicating Brazil’s recent agreement with the European Union through the Mercosur-EU deal.
The second day of the Sherpas meeting featured remarks from President Lula, who expressed optimism regarding BRICS’ future contributions. He noted, “I am convinced that BRICS will continue to be a driver of positive change for our nations and the world.” Lula called for collaborative efforts to maintain peace and establish an effective multilateral security framework while emphasizing that unilateralism threatens global stability.
President Lula also addressed the need for BRICS nations to explore payment options in local currencies to mitigate economic vulnerabilities, advocating for greater economic integration in response to rising protectionism. While initially considering a common currency, recent discussions suggest a focus on enhancing existing bilateral payment systems rather than completely abandoning the dollar, amid tensions with members seeking to reduce dollar dependency owing to sanctions.
The BRICS Sherpas meeting in Brasilia marked a pivotal moment for the bloc under Brazil’s presidency, emphasizing the need for increased multilateral cooperation amidst global changes. With a focus on supporting the Global South and reforming governance structures, BRICS aims to enhance collaboration across various sectors. The meeting set a positive tone for the forthcoming summit, highlighting the importance of unity and coordinated efforts in addressing global challenges.
Original Source: www.intellinews.com
