Without Lula, Brazil tries to maintain influence on Brics decisions

The reason behind this choice lies in the profile of presidents Lula and Cyril Ramaphosa, both former unionists with extensive experience in negotiations. Brazil and South Africa’s bet was that, with the presence of the leaders at the meeting, there would be greater scope for bargaining and influence.

On the other hand, China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, resisted this approach. Known for preferring to formalize already agreed decisions, Xi Jinping is known for rarely entering into negotiations. Therefore, the Chinese advocated that decisions be defined in advance, while Brazil and South Africa sought greater flexibility and negotiating power at the summit.

In addition to Brazil, the BRICS meeting will feature leaders from Egypt, India, Iran, China, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, South Africa, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Laos , Mauritania, Palestine, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.