Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is taking part in a meeting with the heads of delegations of the BRICS member states, partner countries, invited states, and the executive bodies of the international organizations in an ‘outreach’ format. Held in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s chairmanship of BRICS, the summit brings together heads of state and government from member countries and partners for talks on boosting multilateralism, trade, and global security. The event, which marks the first BRICS summit since the bloc’s expansion in 2024, is expected to address strategic priorities. The theme of Lavrov’s speech is “strengthening multilateralism, economic and financial relations and artificial intelligence.”