Brazil’s foreign minister Mauro Vieira said the “Global South is no longer a periphery” as he closed a BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on 7 July. Citing the group’s weight—about half of the world’s population, 44 percent of global output measured at purchasing-power parity and a quarter of international trade—Vieira argued that the bloc is now on the front line of efforts to defend multilateralism, cut poverty and tackle climate change. The minister said China and Russia had reaffirmed support for Brazil’s push to gain a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, framing this as evidence of a shifting global order. He also underlined Brazil’s role as host of three major gatherings in less than two years: the 2024 G-20 summit, this week’s BRICS meeting and the COP30 climate conference scheduled for late 2025. Vieira’s remarks came in response to fresh criticism of BRICS from former U.S. president Donald Trump, who dismissed the forum’s relevance. Without naming Trump, the minister said the bloc offered “concrete alternatives” to unilateral actions and geopolitical tensions, and pledged to deepen cooperation among member states.