Victor EzejaRussian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be absent at the two-day BRICS summit that begins in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
Leaders of the BRICS group will gather to discuss issues about strengthening cooperation, enhancing trade and investment among nations, global economic governance reforms and how to address challenges like terrorism and cybersecurity.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPutin’s absence at the BRICS Summit has been linked to the possibility of him being arrested following a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over his role in the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Brazil, as a signatory to the Rome Statute, would be required to enforce the arrest warrant.
China’s Jinping will reportedly be represented by the Prime Minister Li Qiang.
The group’s cohesiveness and worldwide influence are being questioned in light of the notable absences.
READ ALSO: Trump Threatens BRICS Nations Against Replacing US Dollar
The acronym BRICS is derived from the first letters of the founding member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the bloc as full members after its inaugural summit in 2009. It also has 10 strategic partner countries, a category established last year, which includes Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan Nigeria and Vietnam.
A draft statement released indicated that the new tariff policies initiated by the United States President, Donald Trump, will be among the top issues to discuss at the Summit.
Leaders at the BRICS summit are expected to criticize the Trump administration’s “indiscriminate” trade tariffs, claiming they are illegal and could harm the global economy. Global health policy, artificial intelligence, and climate change will all be on the agenda.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
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