Leaders from the BRICS group of developing nations have convened at Rio de Janeiro's Museum of Modern Art for their 17th annual summit, touting the recently expanded bloc as a counterweight to Western institutions whilst grappling with internal rifts over key geopolitical flashpoints.

The two-day gathering, which opened on July 6, has drawn over 4,000 participants from 37 countries, representing the largest diplomatic assembly in the bloc's 15-year history. The summit comes as the group positions itself as a defender of multilateralism against what it characterises as the disruptive influence of US President Donald Trump's protectionist policies.

In his opening remarks, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva framed the moment in historical terms, telling assembled leaders: "BRICS is the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement. With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is in check once again."

The summit's success in achieving diplomatic consensus marks an important milestone for a bloc that faces many of the same internal tensions that have hampered traditional Western forums. Like the G7 and G20, BRICS struggles to reconcile competing national interests and ideological differences, though it has managed to present a more unified front by casting itself as a champion of multipolarity.

This diplomatic achievement comes despite significant internal wrangling. The bloc's rapid expansion from its original five founding nations to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has produced a more diverse but potentially unwieldy coalition spanning continents and ideological divides.

During last year’s Kazan summit, the group also established a new category of ten strategic partner countries, including Bolivia, Belarus, Cuba and Vietnam.

The arithmetic of this expansion tells a compelling story. BRICS now represents over half of the global population and commands approximately 40% of the world’s GDP in terms of purchasing power parity – statistics that dwarf many traditional Western groupings and offer undeniable proof of the shifting balance of global power.

Yet the summit has also exposed the practical challenges of managing such a motley coalition. Chinese President Xi Jinping's absence – his first in over a decade – and Vladimir Putin's virtual participation due to a pending International Criminal Court arrest warrant linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have raised questions about the bloc's cohesion at its highest levels.

Behind closed doors, negotiations proved particularly challenging on Middle Eastern conflicts and UN Security Council reform. Diplomatic sources cited by Reuters revealed that finding common ground on Gaza, Israel-Iran tensions, and African representation required extensive compromise. The eventual solution – endorsing seats for Brazil and India whilst leaving African representation unresolved – reflects both the bloc's ambition and its limitations.

But it is the trade dimension that has emerged as perhaps the most unifying and potent force within BRICS. The group's pointed criticism of what they term "unjustified unilateral protectionist measures, including the indiscriminate increase of reciprocal tariffs" represents a direct challenge to Washington's aggressive and US-centric economic policies under Donald Trump.

This economic rebuke goes well beyond mere rhetorical posturing. BRICS nations are actively developing alternative financial mechanisms and trade arrangements that could curb global dependence on the US dollar and Western-dominated institutions. The alliance’s emphasis on "strengthening multilateralism" serves as both a philosophical framework and a practical roadmap for institutional reform.

Meanwhile, the bloc's institutional clout received fresh momentum with the expansion of its flagship financial architecture. Colombia and Uzbekistan have joined the New Development Bank, the BRICS alternative to the World Bank, bringing total membership to 11 countries. While announcing the new members on July 5, the bank's president, former Brazilian leader Dilma Rousseff, emphasised the institution's distinctive approach, stating that "One of our key differences is that all members are equal, and every voice is heard."

The Shanghai-based lender, established in 2015, has already approved over 120 investment projects worth $40bn, focusing on infrastructure and sustainable development across emerging economies.

Environmental diplomacy has provided another avenue for BRICS leadership. Brazil's dual role as summit host and COP30 organiser has enabled the country to showcase developing world commitment to environmental action just as the US retreats from climate commitments. Investment pledges from China and the UAE for forest conservation initiatives demonstrate the bloc's capacity for concrete cooperation.

More than 30 nations have expressed interest in joining BRICS, suggesting widespread appetite for alternatives to Western-led international organisations. This demand is a sign of growing frustration with established institutions that many developing nations view as unrepresentative and increasingly ineffective.

Brazilian officials have articulated an ambitious agenda encompassing global health cooperation, artificial intelligence governance, and fundamental reform of international peace and security mechanisms. The scope of these proposals indicates BRICS' intention to compete across the full spectrum of global decision-making rather than merely serving as a vehicle for economic coordination.

The question now is whether this expanded coalition can maintain coherence whilst delivering on its ambitious promises. And there are encouraging signs: the successful negotiation of a joint declaration suggests that despite internal tensions, BRICS members recognise the strategic imperative of presenting unified alternatives to Western institutional dominance.

Yet the journey towards becoming the world’s most relevant grouping, with a Global South perspective, is anything but straightforward.

As one Brazilian diplomat quoted by Reuters observed: "The vacuum left by others ends up being filled almost instantly by the BRICS." The Rio summit shows this process is in full swing, setting the stage for profound changes in global governance.