President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, a high-profile gathering of emerging economies focused this year on global governance reform and South-South cooperation.
The Nigerian leader’s aircraft landed at Galeão Air Force Base at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, where he was warmly received by top Brazilian officials, including the Commander of the Air Base, Brazil’s Deputy Minister for Africa and the Middle East, Ambassador Carlos Sergio Sobral Duarte, and the Deputy Minister for Trade Promotion, Science, Technology, Innovation, and Culture.
President Tinubu is participating at the summit following an official invitation from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, marking Nigeria’s first appearance as a BRICS ‘Partner Country’ — an elevated status from its former guest participant role. Nigeria formally secured this position in January 2025, following a decision at the 16th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg the previous year.
As a partner country, Nigeria now contributes to BRICS’ deliberations, participates in strategic initiatives, and influences policy declarations within the bloc, which represents nearly half the world’s population and about 40% of global GDP.
Summit Focus: Global Governance, Middle East Tensions, and US Trade Policies
The 2025 summit, taking place from July 6-7, is expected to deliver firm positions on reforming global governance frameworks and enhancing cooperation among Global South nations. However, brewing tensions over recent US trade protectionism, particularly tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump’s second term, are set to dominate discussions.
According to summit insiders, BRICS leaders are preparing a carefully worded joint statement condemning the economic uncertainty spurred by Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy — though avoiding direct mention of the US or Trump by name. This diplomatic balancing act reflects sensitivities within the bloc, especially for China, which has only recently negotiated tariff reductions with Washington.
“This isn’t the time to reignite friction between the world’s top two economies,” noted Marta Fernandez, Director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University.
Key Absences and Diplomatic Undercurrents
Adding to the intrigue, Chinese President Xi Jinping is conspicuously absent from the summit for the first time in his 12-year tenure, delegating attendance to Premier Li Qiang. Analysts suggest Xi’s no-show may be influenced by recent bilateral engagements, delicate US-China relations, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s elevated guest status at the event.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing an international arrest warrant, will also skip the summit physically but plans to join proceedings via video link, the Kremlin confirmed.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, grappling with the aftermath of a 12-day conflict with Israel, has opted out as well. Disagreements persist among member states over how firmly to address the crises in Gaza and the broader Middle East within the summit’s final communiqué.
Other Summit Priorities: AI, Healthcare, and Expanding Membership
In addition to geopolitics and trade, the summit’s agenda includes deliberations on artificial intelligence, healthcare collaboration, and economic resilience. The grouping has grown substantially, welcoming new members such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, further diversifying its influence — though also complicating consensus-building on global issues.
President Lula da Silva, keen to position Brazil as a diplomatic heavyweight ahead of the country’s 2025 G20 and COP30 leadership roles, is reportedly hopeful the expanded BRICS bloc can forge unified positions on contentious international challenges.
With high-profile absences, escalating geopolitical tensions, and rising expectations from Global South nations, the 2025 BRICS Summit promises to be one of the bloc’s most consequential meetings in years. For Nigeria, Tinubu’s attendance marks a significant diplomatic milestone as the country cements its place at the table of global economic powerhouses.
