Think BRICS participated directly in the XVI BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Kazan, a historic milestone for the multipolar world. The summit marked the expansion of BRICS with new members including Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and the UAE joining the founding nations.

Leaders from 24 countries gathered to discuss reducing dollar dependency, advancing alternative payment systems, and increasing bilateral trade in national currencies. The core outcome was the Kazan Declaration, establishing three key pillars for BRICS cooperation: policy and security, economy and finance, and humanitarian cooperation.

For Think BRICS, attending in person was a once-in-a-year opportunity to witness this transformation firsthand, engage with experts and practitioners from across the Global South, and bring clarity to one of the most consequential geopolitical moments of the year.

Russia concluded its BRICS presidency on November 28 in Yekaterinburg, formally handing over to Brazil. Over 250 BRICS-hosted initiatives were launched during Russia’s term, including the BRICS Grain Exchange, a Contact Group on Climate Change, a transport dialogue, and breakthroughs in sustainable payment mechanisms centered on national currencies.