Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting

I am honored to welcome you to Rio de Janeiro for this BRICS Meeting of Foreign Ministers. Also, it is a joy for me to welcome you to the newly renovated Itamaraty Palace, the former seat of the Presidency and, later, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for much of the 20th century.

This meeting comes at a moment when our role as a group is more vital than ever. We face a convergence of global and regional crises, with humanitarian emergencies, armed conflicts, political instability, and the erosion of multilateralism. These crises challenge the very foundations of international peace and security and demand a renewed commitment to collective action.

The expansion of BRICS has strengthened our platform, allowing us to respond to these challenges. With eleven member states representing almost half of the world’s peoples and broad geographical and cultural diversity, BRICS is in a unique position to promote peace and stability based on dialogue, development and multilateral cooperation.

We are united by a common belief: peace cannot be imposed, it must be built. It must be based on inclusion, respect for international law, and the sovereign equality of states. BRICS, as a group, recognizes the strategic interests and legitimate economic and security interests of each member, in both their respective regions and around the world. This is part of our contribution to a just distribution of power in global affairs, which is a condition for achieving peace, development and sustainability. We support diplomacy rather than confrontation, cooperation rather than unilateralism.

The post-World War II security architecture is showing signs of disarray. Armed conflicts are proliferating, often with devastating consequences for civilian populations. Forced displacement, hunger and environmental degradation are increasing at alarming rates. International mechanisms, however, remain slow, politicized and sometimes paralyzed in the face of urgent needs.

In this context, BRICS has a vital role to play in strengthening the principles of international law, supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes, and promoting the reform of multilateral institutions—especially  the United Nations and its Security Council—to better reflect today’s geopolitical realities.

We must also strengthen preventive diplomacy. Crises often arise in the absence of inclusive development and dialogue. Investing in peace means addressing the root causes of instability: poverty, inequality, marginalization, and weak institutions.

Excellencies,

We cannot discuss the role of BRICS in advancing peace and security without addressing the urgent crises that persist throughout the world.

The devastating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories remains a source of deep concern. The resumption of Israeli bombing in Gaza and the ongoing obstruction of humanitarian aid efforts are unacceptable. The collapse of the ceasefire announced on January 15 is deplorable. We urge the parties to fully comply with the terms of the agreement and to engage in good faith towards a permanent end to hostilities. We must ensure the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, secure the release of all hostages and detainees, and guarantee the entry of humanitarian assistance. A just and lasting solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be achieved through peaceful means in keeping with international law. We remain steadfast in our commitment to a two-state solution, with an independent and viable State of Palestine—within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital—that lives side by side with Israel in peace and security.

The conflict in Ukraine continues to exert a grave humanitarian impact, underscoring the urgent need for a diplomatic solution that upholds the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. Last September, in New York, Brazil and China hosted a high-level meeting of Global South countries on the conflict in Ukraine, leading to the creation of the "Group of Friends of Peace" that brought together countries from the Global South. We remain committed to continuing our work toward peace and a political solution to the conflict.

In Haiti, the deteriorating security, humanitarian and economic situation demands our immediate action. We must support the Haitian authorities and the Haitian people in their efforts to restore public order, dismantle armed gangs, and establish the conditions for lasting social and economic development.

With regard to Africa, Brazil remains deeply concerned about the escalation of tensions in Sudan, the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa. We support fully the efforts of the African Union and African regional organizations, the United Nations and other institutions and countries to find political and diplomatic solutions to these crises.

We must also reaffirm our commitment to humanitarian principles. In conflict zones, access to aid must be unconditional and impartial. Human suffering must never be instrumentalized. BRICS must continue to stand for a neutral, depoliticized and genuinely universal global humanitarian system.

The path to peace is neither easy nor linear. But BRICS can and must be a force for good—not a confrontational bloc, but a cooperative coalition. We must lead by example, reaffirming our belief in a multipolar world where security is not the privilege of a few but the right of all.

Thank you.