The BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro is set to witness significant absences at the leadership level, marking a notable shift in participation dynamics within the influential grouping of emerging economies.
For the first time since he assumed power in 2012, Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be attending the BRICS summit in person — a development seen as symbolically important, given China’s central role in the bloc.
President Xi’s decision to skip the summit comes amid growing global tensions and internal economic pressures, although no official reason has been provided by Beijing.
His absence will likely lead to speculation about China’s strategic approach to BRICS going forward, especially as the group undergoes expansion and discusses key geopolitical issues, including global governance, trade imbalances, and regional conflicts.
In another notable absence, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be travelling to Brazil to attend the summit in person. Instead, he will join proceedings via videoconference.
Putin has limited his international travel in recent years, particularly following the issuance of an international arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The warrant has effectively restricted his physical presence at many international forums, especially in countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, which Brazil is.
President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran — a newly inducted BRICS member — will also not attend the summit, along with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Their absence, though less surprising, points to the logistical and diplomatic complexities that accompany BRICS’ recent expansion. Both leaders are expected to send senior representatives to participate in the proceedings.
Another country under close watch is Saudi Arabia. Although Riyadh has been actively involved in member-level discussions and has attended BRICS-related forums as an observer, it has not yet submitted its formal confirmation letter to officially join the bloc.
While Saudi participation at the summit is expected at some level, the delay in formal accession has raised questions about the kingdom’s longer-term strategic alignment with the grouping.
Analysts suggest that Riyadh is still weighing the geopolitical implications of joining BRICS, particularly amid its balancing act between relations with the West and growing ties with China, Russia, and other Global South partners.
Despite these high-level absences, the Rio Summit remains an important platform for shaping the future of multilateralism from a Global South perspective.
With India, Brazil, and South Africa expected to take prominent roles at the gathering, the summit will likely focus on strengthening internal cohesion within BRICS, advancing the case for UN Security Council reform, addressing terrorism, and tackling global trade inequities.
Observers note that while the absences may affect the optics of unity within the expanded BRICS, the group’s relevance remains intact.
The presence of senior delegations and the active participation of key member states suggest that the summit’s substantive agenda — including economic cooperation, sustainable development, and geopolitical realignments — will continue to move forward, even in the absence of certain heads of state.
