Leaders of the BRICS, a major emerging economy, held a two-day summit in the Brazilian metropolis in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
The acronym of the BRICS countries is excerpted from the initials of the founding member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
In early 2024, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates joined the group, and Indonesia entered in January.
The summit is hosted by Brazil and plans to address health policies, artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change.
But Chinese President Xi Jinping won't attend in person for the first time, sending Prime Minister Li Qiang to replace him.
Nor will Russian President Vladimir Putin be informed of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched by the International Criminal Court in 2022.
As the signator of the Roman regulations, Brazil will be required to enforce an arrest warrant.
The BRICS countries said they account for 48.5% of the global population, 36% of the global land area and 24% of the global economic output.
These countries see themselves as a forum for cooperation among countries in the global South.
The organization's goal is to counterweight the seven (g7) groups of leading Western economic powers.
