Mashregh News Agency,International Group: Umur Toghay Yucel,a Turkish author and BRICS expert,wrote in an exclusive note for Mashregh’s International Group: The BRICS group gathered with its new members at the 17th BRICS Leaders Summit in Brazil. The Rio de Janeiro Declaration attracted global attention and generated meaningful discussions across Global South countries. While the 31-page declaration containing 126 articles outlined the path for the Global South, BRICS’s mechanism emerged as a compass for these nations. But what makes BRICS so crucial?
Frist of all, BRICS has acquired greater economic power than the G7 countries.Its member states comprise nearly half of the world’s population. With dynamic economies and vast populations, BRICS is on track to become a political force with increasing influence day by day. These countries seek reforms in international institutions such as the United Nations, World Bank, and International Monetary Fund while holding sway in platforms like the G20.
Specifically, BRICS’s appeal grows from offering non-Western alternatives-including alternative payment systems, local currencies, and substitute institutions-intended to counterbalance Western dominance. Enhanced cooperation and coordination among its members contribute to global stability and peace. Due to its rich cultural diversity and civilizations represented within its membership, it stands as one of the most diverse organizations after the United Nations.
Thus, including non-Western cultures and civilizations remains crucial as BRICS-with its “Civilizations union”-serves as an antidote to Western-led “Clash of Civilizations” narratives. While recognized primarily as an economic, political, and diplomatic power bloc, it should not be overlooked that BRICS also constitutes a cultural force.
The 17th summit concluded with a declaration reflecting BRICS’s growing power by strongly condemning terrorist attacks against member states India and Russia. Most notably-and substantially-the statement firmly denounced attacks on Iran that flagrantly violate international law.
In fact-in their first meeting with new members-the condemnation of Israel and the United States was among key highlights of this declaration. Beyond this context-even though BRICS is not a military or security alliance-by standing alongside Iran as their newest member state family unity sent a clear message of strength and solidarity toward Western powers. Ahead of the leaders’ summit itself; BRICS issued statements expressing deep concern over Israeli-American assaults.
The Brazilian chairmanship condemned U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities sharply calling them violations against UN Charters plus international atomic energy norms; China Russia South Africa also criticized these attacks vehemently while urging cessation regarding violence affecting India too.
Moreover newly inducted members Egypt UAE Indonesia Ethiopia joined condemnation efforts targeting Israeli offensives while existing members pursued diplomatic initiatives aimed at ending regional conflicts promptly.
The military-free character indicated in JCPOA compels BRICS toward more active diplomatic engagements at negotiation tables thus positioning itself increasingly as balancer shaping emerging power equilibriums during regional crises gradually over time. Nonetheless expectations beyond reason remain impractical given that this coalition barely sixteen years young yet today illustrates stronger collective unity enhanced further by new members providing substantial value especially for countries across Global South affairs.
