The 15th Summit of the BRICS–Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the group of major emerging economies–starts today, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations has accepted the invitation to make a statement on August 24.
Guterres, who has been invited to speak by BRICS leaders, doesn’t normally take part in the BRICS summit. But his decision is no surprise, since it has been a particularly challenging period on a global level and this summit brings together very important actors on the international stage.
He will use this as an opportunity to deliver a clear message: “In a fracturing world overwhelmed by crises, there is no credible alternative to cooperation”. He wants leaders to act in solidarity and with urgency on a series of issues including climate change and the restructuring of the international financial system, among others. It will be added to the major issue that will be discussed over the next few days: BRICS expansion and addition of new members by reconsidering the admission criteria and guiding principles.
Together with BRICS leaders–South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Xi Jinping of China, Brazil’s President Luiz Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is representing President Putin–the UN Secretary-General will meet with some others on the margins of the summit.
