**Breaking News: BRICS Summit 2025 Faces Major Challenges Amid High-Stakes Tensions**
In a dramatic turn of events, the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro is underway, grappling with significant absences and mounting geopolitical tensions. With the world watching, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are under immense pressure to demonstrate unity in the face of Donald Trump’s controversial trade tariffs and looming threats to the global economy.
As the summit unfolds, security is at an all-time high, reflecting the urgency of discussions on expanding the BRICS payment platform to reduce reliance on the US dollar. However, the absence of key figures—most notably Russia’s Vladimir Putin, facing an international arrest warrant, and China’s Xi Jinping, who sent a lower-ranking official in his stead—casts a shadow over the proceedings. Their non-attendance raises critical questions about the group’s cohesion and effectiveness.
Since its inception, BRICS has evolved into a formidable bloc representing over half of the world’s population and 40% of global economic output. Yet, the summit’s atmosphere is far from the glamour of previous years. The inclusion of new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE has complicated consensus-building, as internal divisions threaten to undermine the group’s objectives.
Experts warn that the absence of major leaders and the challenges of reaching agreement among an expanded membership could stifle the BRICS’ ability to take decisive action. The stakes are high, with discussions on security cooperation and AI governance on the agenda. As Brazil pushes for what it calls inclusive leadership of the Global South, the effectiveness of this summit hangs in the balance.
With the world economy teetering on the brink, the BRICS nations must prove they are more than just a talking shop. The coming days will reveal whether this diverse coalition can rise to the occasion or falter under the weight of its own ambitions. Stay tuned for updates as this critical summit unfolds.