I’ve been so focused on our climate-ecological crises and other pressing issues of our lives in the United States that it has been years since I’ve covered news of the BRICS group of countries. The 17th BRICS Summit 2025, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 6th to 7th, caught my attention. After all, the emerging and developing economies of the Global South* must be facing additional challenges with America’s disengagement from international cooperation on global issues as well as our government’s unilateral stance on trade tariffs worldwide. And much more.

Why should the BRICS group matter? It’s not a formal organization. There’s no constitutional treaty, budget, or a permanent secretariat. Rather, it serves only as a forum for economic and diplomatic coordination in diverse areas of mutual interest. The group also aims to offer an alternative to Western-dominated economic models. The presidency rotates annually with the incumbent responsible for organizing and sponsoring the group’s activities.