When the BRICS bloc-originally comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-was formed, it was touted as the future of multipolarity. A coalition of rising economies, united by shared frustration with Western dominance in global institutions, BRICS was meant to offer an alternative vision of world order. With the recent expansion to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, some hailed the emergence of “BRICS ” as a Global South counterweight to the G7. But the 17th annual BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, has brought that vision into question.

The Rio summit was far from the triumph many had anticipated. Despite adopting a long list of joint positions, the gathering lacked the enthusiasm of previous years. Four key leaders-Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, Egypt’s Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Iran’s Ebrahim Raisi-chose not to attend in person. While Putin’s absence was linked to the risk of arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant, Xi’s no-show raised more questions. Though attributed to a scheduling conflict, many interpreted it as a sign of fading Chinese enthusiasm for the project.

This lack of high-level attendance was a symbolic blow. It also exposed deeper structural challenges that now confront BRICS , as it seeks to balance its anti-hegemonic aspirations with internal differences and geopolitical constraints.

The growing divide in strategic vision is perhaps BRICS’s most significant hurdle. Russia and China continue to view the bloc as a potential platform for challenging Western, especially American, dominance. Their push last year........

© Blitz