Address by Minister Mauro Vieira at the First BRICS Sherpas Meeting – Brasília, February 25–26, 2025

Excellencies,

It is an honor to welcome you to this inaugural meeting of Brazil’s BRICS chairship. We convene at a pivotal moment — one of profound transformation, where the principles of multilateralism and cooperation are being tested by crises that demand urgent and collective action.

The international order is undergoing significant shifts. Deepening geopolitical tensions, rising inequalities, and rapid technological and economic changes are challenging traditional governance structures. Longstanding institutions struggle to adapt, while emerging economies rightly demand a more equitable role in shaping decisions that affect us all. In this evolving landscape, BRICS has a crucial role to play in fostering a more just, inclusive, and sustainable world order.

A multipolar world is not just an emerging reality — it is a shared objective. A rebalanced global system must rest on a firmer foundation of fairness and representation, and no such foundation can be built without the voice of BRICS. This group embodies the aspirations of the Global South, and our role in shaping the future has never been more significant.

The recent expansion of BRICS — from five to eleven members —was a major development. Representing nearly half of the world’s population and 39% of global GDP, we are also responsible for half of the global energy output. This expanded BRICS carries the promise of a Global South that is no longer merely a participant in global affairs, but an influential and constructive force in shaping the international order.

At the heart of our discussions today and tomorrow lies the imperative to redefine global governance in a way that reflects 21st-century realities. The world’s institutions must evolve to accommodate diverse perspectives, ensuring that developing nations are not passive players, but active architects of the future. BRICS represents a new vision for global governance — one that prioritizes inclusivity, fairness, and cooperation over hegemony, injustice, inequality, and unilateralism.

Excellencies,

The international order built after World War II rested on two great promises: a collective security system centered on the United Nations and a vision of prosperity through a rules-based multilateral trade system. Today, the limitations of these promises are increasingly evident.

On security, we see an alarming rise in humanitarian crises, armed conflicts, forced displacement, food insecurity, and political instability. Humanitarian needs are growing, yet international responses remain fragmented and, at times, insufficient. If we are to meet these challenges, we must advocate for a comprehensive reform of the global security architecture — one that reflects contemporary realities and upholds our shared moral responsibility to act.

BRICS must champion a multilateral approach to conflict resolution, emphasizing diplomacy, mediation, conflict prevention, and sustainable development. We must also push for a humanitarian system that is not subject to political pressures, neutral, and truly universal — ensuring that aid reaches those in need without conditionalities or political motivations.

On the economic front, we are witnessing the process of “deglobalization”. Protectionist policies, trade fragmentation, non-economic barriers, and the reconfiguration of supply chains threaten to deepen global inequalities. BRICS must resist this fragmentation and advocate for an open, fair, and balanced multilateral trade system — one that serves the needs of the Global South and fosters a genuinely multipolar economic order.

A key aspect of this transformation is financial architecture reform. The existing system was designed for a different era and has too often failed to address the realities faced by developing nations. BRICS must continue advancing alternative financial mechanisms, such as the New Development Bank, which plays a vital role in funding infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies.

Excellencies,

The most effective response to the crisis of multilateralism is more multilateralism — stronger and more inclusive across all spheres.

Beyond global governance reform, Brazil’s BRICS chairship will focus on two major areas: Global South Cooperation and a BRICS Partnership for Social, Economic, and Environmental Development, aiming at bringing solutions where the world is most in need.

We will organize our work around six priorities: global health cooperation; trade, investment and finance; combatting climate change; artificial intelligence governance; reform of the peace and security multilateral system; and BRICS’ institutional development.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed severe inequalities in access to vaccines, treatments, and essential medical supplies. It underscored the urgent need for a more coordinated, resilient, and inclusive global health architecture – one that serves all nations, not just a privileged few. Economic status must not dictate access to healthcare. We cannot accept an international hierarchy of diseases and treatments. BRICS must lead efforts to face socially determined and neglected tropical diseases and other health challenges disproportionately affecting the Global South. We must advocate for a global health agenda that prioritizes the needs of developing nations and strengthens our national healthcare systems.

As we navigate the transformations of the 21st century, artificial intelligence presents both immense opportunities and profound risks. AI has the potential to dramatically transform sectors from healthcare to education. Yet without proper governance, it also poses ethical, economic, and security challenges.

Global AI governance must be inclusive and democratic and contribute to economic development. It cannot be dictated by a handful of actors while the rest of the world is forced to adapt to rules they had no role in shaping. BRICS must advocate for a multilateral approach that ensures AI development is ethical, transparent, and aligned with humanity’s collective interests. Our collaboration should focus on fostering AI research, addressing algorithmic bias, protecting data privacy, mitigating cybersecurity risks, and managing the socio-economic impacts of automation.

Despite our significant contribution to the global economy, trade among BRICS members is still far below its potential. Our presidency will focus on ways to enhance trade flows, both by exploring trade facilitation measures and by stimulating payment instruments in local currencies.

The climate crisis is the defining challenge of our time. While BRICS nations have made significant commitments towards sustainability, we must recognize the deep financing gap that hampers climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in developing countries.

Despite contributing little to historical greenhouse gas emissions, the Global South bears the brunt of climate change — from extreme weather events to rising sea levels and biodiversity loss. Addressing this crisis requires not only ambition but also fairness. Climate justice must be at the heart of international discussions, ensuring that developing nations have both the autonomy and the resources needed to transition towards low-carbon economies without sacrificing their development goals.

Excellencies,

The world stands at a crossroads, and the choices we make today will shape the future of global governance for generations to come. BRICS was founded on the principles of cooperation, equity, and mutual respect. As we embark on this journey together, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable international order.

By strengthening Global South cooperation, fostering partnerships for social, economic, and environmental development, and upholding multilateralism, we can help forge a future that reflects the aspirations of the billions of people that we represent.

I look forward to the discussions among our countries and to the concrete actions that will emerge from our collective efforts.

Thank you.