The final communique emphasized ambitions to create new trade and payment mechanisms, albeit without concrete steps. Such alternatives could help members bypass Western-led systems, a pressing matter for Russia as it faces ongoing sanctions following its 2022 Ukraine invasion.
Notable diplomatic gains included the attendance of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, whose NATO-aligned country has shown interest in joining BRICS. India and China also seized the opportunity to emphasize fresh efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, reinforcing BRICS as a forum for fostering economic ties beyond the influence of Western powers.
