Lavrov: BRICS’ Key Goal ''Building Trade, Investment Platforms'' Independent of West

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that establishing independent trade, economic, financial, and investment platforms outside Western influence is one of the core objectives of the BRICS group.

Lavrov made the remarks during a “Government Hour” session at the Russian State Duma, stating:

"One of our most important tasks is to build platforms within BRICS that enable trade, economic, monetary, financial, and investment relations without obstacles, platforms that do not depend on illegal practices or other unfriendly measures by the West, which violate the rules and principles of global trade and international economic and financial relations."

The minister also highlighted Russia’s willingness to reach agreements with partners on regulating artificial intelligence and noted the signing of the UN Cybercrime Convention during a meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, in October 2025, emphasizing that the initiative came from Russia.

BRICS began negotiations in 2006 and held its first summit in 2009, originally including Brazil, Russia, India, and China under the acronym BRIC. South Africa joined in 2011, forming BRICS.

The group expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, the UAE, Iran, and Ethiopia, and in early 2025 Indonesia joined, while Saudi Arabia holds the status of an “invited country.”

BRICS aims to establish a multipolar international political and economic system, with member countries covering a quarter of the world’s land area, housing 40% of the global population, and accounting for 40% of global GDP.