BRICS supports Brazil’s efforts to join UN Security Council

The BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—expressed support of Brazil’s candidacy to become a rotating member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council in 2022 and 2023. The endorsement is found in the statement drafter at the bloc’s 12th summit meeting, held Tuesday (17) online.

The joint text also advocates for international cooperation to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and the equitable distribution of a safe and efficient vaccine. Regarding international trade, the countries called for a reform at the World Trade Organization (WTO) protecting developing countries, preventing protectionism in rich countries, and seeking a “more resilient” global supply chain.

Under Russia’s leadership, BRICS argued for a comprehensive overhaul at the UN to welcome more countries in the Security Council group. With the US, Russia, China, France, and the UK as permanent members, the council serves as the main arbitrator when it comes to conflicts in the international system, and has ten rotating members, elected for two-year tenures. For decades, Brazil, one of the countries occupying a position of a non-permanent member the most, has asked for a fixed seat.

Bolsonaro

The declaration is in line with some of the requests made by President Jair Bolsonaro. In the meeting’s opening address, he called for changes at the WTO, underscored his appeal for a permanent seat for Brazil at the UN Security Council, and advocated reforms at the World Health Organization (WHO).