Rio de Janeiro, July 06 (V7N) — The 17th BRICS summit has commenced in the southeastern Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, bringing together leaders of the bloc’s 11 member states to discuss pressing global issues, including trade, climate change, artificial intelligence, and global health policy. However, the absence of two key figures — Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping — has drawn attention and raised questions about the unity and influence of the group.

For the first time since 2012, President Xi is not attending the summit in person, instead delegating Chinese Premier Li Qiang to represent Beijing. Analysts suggest Xi’s limited engagement in international forums recently reflects growing domestic political concerns.

President Putin, meanwhile, skipped the summit due to the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his role in the Ukraine war. As a signatory to the Rome Statute, Brazil would have been obligated to arrest him if he attended.

This year’s summit has also seen member states call for stronger collective positions on Israel’s military actions in Gaza and recent attacks on Iran.

BRICS, originally formed in 2009 with Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded its membership to 11 countries, now including the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The bloc asserts that it represents half of the world’s population, 36% of global land area, and about a quarter of the world economy. However, observers note that its future effectiveness will hinge on the ability of its diverse members to build internal consensus and coordinate strategies on key global challenges.

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