The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed, during a phone call with his Brazilian counterpart on Tuesday, a number of mutual cooperation issues, as well as within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations.” The Russian Foreign Ministry added that both sides confirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation within the group, including the activities of the New Development Bank, as well as within the United Nations and other international forums.
The 17th BRICS summit was held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6 and 7. The group currently includes 10 countries after its recent expansion, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia, which will officially join at the beginning of 2025.
It is noteworthy that BRICS was founded in 2006, initiated by Russia, with South Africa joining in 2011. The group expanded in 2024 with the inclusion of four new countries and one more in 2025, while other countries such as Belarus, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam collaborate with the group as partners.
