On October 23, 2024 the BRICS+ concluded its annual meeting by adopting the Kazan Declaration, a 43-page document written on the theme of “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security”. The document reiterates the bloc’s support for multilateralism and covers a host of topics, from geopolitics and international conflicts, to artificial intelligence and the status of big cats.
Geopolitics and international conflict
The War in Ukraine: The leaders voiced support for the United Nations Charter and a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, including “relevant proposals of mediation and good offices, aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.”
The Israel-Gaza War and Crisis in the Middle East: The leaders expressed “grave concern at the deterioration of the situation and humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular the unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.” They also continued to voice alarm over the spread of violence to Southern Lebanon, stating they “condemn the loss of civilian lives and the immense damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from attacks by Israel in residential areas in Lebanon and call for immediate cessation of military acts.”
Finance and Economics
BRICS leaders repeated calls “to reform the current international financial architecture to meet the global financial challenges including global economic governance to make the international financial architecture more inclusive and just.” While they maintained support for a “strong and effective Global Financial Safety Net with a quota-based and adequately resourced IMF at its centre,” they all support new tools for economic cooperation between BRICS members. Those tools included an agreement to support trade and financial settlements in local currencies, a BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, and a BRICS Grain Exchange.
The BRICS members also took the opportunity to critique the rise of sanctions, saying: “We are deeply concerned about the disruptive effect of unlawful unilateral coercive measures, including illegal sanctions, on the world economy, international trade, and the achievement of the sustainable development goals.”
Health and Environment
BRICS leaders voiced the view that they: “support the initiatives of the BRICS R&D Vaccine Center, further development of the BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for preventing mass infectious diseases risks.”
Notably, they added a note on biodiversity by saying they “take note of the Republic of India’s initiative to create an International Big Cats Alliance and encourage BRICS countries to work together to make further contributions to the conservation of big cats.”