The leaders of the 11 largest emerging economies signed the Joint Declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit, in Rio de Janeiro. The document reflects a unified push for multilateralism, stronger international law, and a more equitable global order. The declaration, the product of months of negotiations and over 200 preparatory meetings, outlines 126 commitments across key areas including hunger eradication, climate action, emerging technologies, global health, and financial reform. BRICS also introduced or reinforced 200 cooperation mechanisms as part of the summit outcomes. The leaders pledged to enhance collaboration within the expanded BRICS grouping based on three main pillars: politics and security, economy and finance, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation. They affirmed their support for the UN Charter and reiterated calls to increase the representation of African, Latin American, and Caribbean nations in global governance institutions. The group also highlighted the opportunities multipolarity offers to the Global South in addressing escalating geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism, and global development gaps. "We want to emphasize the importance of the Global South as a driver of positive change," the document states. Finance, Health, and AI Governance In the financial realm, the countries called for a realignment of IMF quotas and World Bank shareholding to reflect current global economic realities without disadvantaging developing nations. On health, leaders launched the Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases to address root causes of health disparities and reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive global health governance and achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Artificial intelligence (AI) featured prominently on the BRICS agenda for the first time, with member states advocating a global AI governance framework that reflects shared values and ensures inclusive access and risk mitigation for the Global South. Climate Action and Security With COP30 approaching under Brazil's presidency, BRICS endorsed the Tropical Forest Forever Fund (TFFF) as a long-term mechanism to finance forest conservation. A new Climate Framework Declaration was also introduced to scale up resources for climate action over the next five years. In the area of global peace and security, BRICS expressed concern over rising military spending and called for rebalancing international priorities toward sustainable development and poverty reduction. Leaders also opposed linking security concerns with climate policy, warning against the fragmentation of global governance. In addition to the main declaration, three thematic frameworks were adopted: the BRICS Leaders' Framework Declaration on Climate Finance, the Declaration on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, and the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases, reflecting Brazil's summit priorities. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
