Foreign ministers from the BRICS group of developing nations failed to reach a joint communique on Tuesday after meeting in Rio de Janeiro, but chair Brazil issued a statement speaking out against trade protectionism.

Amid an increasingly complex international landscape, Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira emphasized the need for BRICS nations to unite and collaborate in addressing global risks while playing a central role in promoting peace and sustainable development.‌

Vieira noted that, in an effort to end the war, Brazil and China—both BRICS members—convened a high-level meeting in New York in September last year. The initiative led to the creation of the Group of Friends of Peace, which brings together Global South countries, primarily developing nations from the southern hemisphere.