Brics summit set to be wary of Trump

A SUMMIT of BRICS nations will convene in Rio de Janeiro tomorrow and Monday, with members hoping to weigh in on global crises while tiptoeing around US President Donald Trump's policies.

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The city will play host to leaders and diplomats from 11 emerging economies including China, India, Russia and South Africa, which represent nearly half of the world’s population and 40% of its GDP.

Brazil’s left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will have to navigate the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will miss the summit for the first time. Beijing will instead be represented by its Prime Minister Li Qiang.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who is facing a pending International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, will not travel to Brazil, but is set to participate via video link, according to the Kremlin.