In a conversation with India Today TV, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated that the Brics grouping has the potential to strengthen the collective voice of the Global South, transform global trade dynamics, and promote deeper multilateral cooperation beyond established international platforms such as the G7 and the G20. He described Brics as one of the most influential multilateral initiatives to emerge over the past thirty years, emphasizing its growing importance as a forum that allows developing and emerging economies to participate more actively in shaping global decision-making.
During the exclusive interview, President Lula highlighted that Brics represents a new geopolitical framework that differs fundamentally from earlier global alliances dominated by advanced economies. He explained that while the G7 primarily reflects the interests of the world’s wealthiest nations and the G20 was formed in response to the 2008 global financial crisis centered in the United States, Brics stands out because it brings together countries representing the Global South and emerging economic powers. According to him, the grouping provides an alternative platform where nations outside traditional Western-led structures can collaborate and influence international policies.
Lula underscored the demographic and strategic significance of the bloc, pointing to the inclusion of India and China, whose combined populations account for nearly half of the world’s total population. He noted that if countries such as Indonesia are considered within the broader Brics expansion, the grouping could effectively represent more than half of humanity. This scale, he argued, gives Brics considerable potential to reshape global engagement by fostering new trade arrangements, strengthening cultural exchanges, and encouraging more balanced relations between states.
The Brazilian president also linked the importance of Brics to the broader concept of multilateralism that developed after the Second World War. He stated that multilateral cooperation was originally designed to maintain international harmony and reduce the likelihood of conflicts by encouraging dialogue and economic cooperation among nations. In his view, stronger multilateral frameworks help prevent geopolitical tensions, as economic disputes and trade rivalries often precede larger conflicts.
Addressing current global tensions, Lula made it clear that Brazil does not support increasing rivalry between major powers, particularly between China and the United States. He emphasized that his country advocates a balanced international order built on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect rather than confrontation. According to him, initiatives like Brics can contribute to a more inclusive and cooperative global system by promoting shared development goals and encouraging constructive engagement among nations.
