The 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government commenced in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, drawing leaders from emerging economies and partner nations to address critical global issues. Among the key attendees was Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who arrived in Rio de Janeiro to participate as a partner nation, accepting an invitation from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Upon his arrival at Galeao Air Force Base, President Tinubu was greeted by Brazil’s Deputy Ministers for Africa and Trade Promotion and honored with a Guard of Honour by the Brazilian military.

Ahead of the main summit sessions scheduled for July 6 and 7, President Tinubu engaged in a bilateral meeting with President Lula da Silva on July 5. During the summit, the Nigerian leader was set to deliver an address on Nigeria's ongoing economic reforms, aiming to reposition the economy for global competitiveness. He intended to pitch investment opportunities across various sectors, including agriculture, solid minerals, healthcare, and alternative energy. Deliberations at the summit also focused on inclusive governance, artificial intelligence regulation, climate change, and global health issues. President Tinubu was accompanied by several state governors, namely Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), and Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), as well as key ministers. His participation in the BRICS Summit followed a week-long state visit to Saint Lucia, where Nigeria had recently formalized diplomatic ties, proposed reciprocal visa waivers for OECS officials, announced scholarships, and received the nation’s highest honor.

The BRICS group, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, has expanded significantly to include South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. This enlarged bloc now accounts for nearly half of the world’s population and approximately 40 percent of global GDP, underscoring its growing global significance. The summit's overarching theme was "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance." However, the gathering was notably marked by the absence of two prominent leaders: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision to miss the annual meeting in person, a first in 12 years, sparked considerable speculation, especially amidst mounting tensions with the United States and the threat of impending trade tariffs. Beijing provided no official explanation for his absence. Analysts suggested various reasons, including Xi having recently hosted Brazilian President Lula da Silva in Beijing, the diplomatic optics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi being the guest of honor, and a potential desire not to be overshadowed by Modi. Premier Li Qiang represented China in Xi's stead. Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing an international arrest warrant, attended virtually, as did Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose country is recovering from a recent conflict with Israel. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi was also absent from the physical proceedings.

For Brazilian President Lula da Silva, the absence of two of BRICS' most prominent leaders presented a setback, as Brazil had hoped to leverage the summit to assert its role as a key global player. This summit serves as a prelude to Brazil hosting a G20 summit and the COP30 climate talks, and comes ahead of Lula's anticipated bid for a fourth presidential term in 2026. Economic cooperation was a central agenda item, with Lula reiterating his call for BRICS nations to explore alternatives to the US dollar for international trade, viewing reliance on the greenback as a relic of a bygone era. Despite these aspirations, leaders were expected to tread cautiously, particularly given the US's preparation to impose steep tariffs, including potential 100 percent tariffs on nations perceived as challenging the dollar's dominance. Experts anticipated a subdued tone, with any criticism of Washington likely to be veiled or omitted from the final communiqué to avoid provoking further friction.

Ahead of the Leaders' Summit, BRICS political negotiators held discussions focusing on artificial intelligence governance, climate finance, and strategies to combat socially determined diseases, aiming to provide concrete solutions to structural challenges confronting the Global South. Despite efforts to foster unity, the group's significant expansion has made consensus-building increasingly complex. Disparate national interests, particularly concerning relations with the US and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, have made achieving unified positions challenging. This was evident earlier in the year when the bloc failed to release a joint statement on the Israel-Iran clashes and subsequent US retaliation, revealing internal divisions. Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, however, expressed optimism, hoping member states would agree on common positions, including on the Middle East and reforms to global governance structures. Security in Rio de Janeiro was significantly increased for the event, reflecting the heightened global tensions and the summit's importance.