Leaders of the BRICS bloc on Sunday strongly criticised U.S. President Donald Trump’s escalating trade tariffs and condemned recent Israeli-American military strikes on Iran, warning that such unilateral actions threaten global stability and economic growth.
At the plenary session of the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the 11-member group — which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly admitted nations such as Iran and Saudi Arabia — issued a joint statement voicing “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff measures.”
Without directly naming President Trump, the leaders asserted that the imposition of indiscriminate tariffs risked damaging the global economy and undermining international cooperation.
Trump, however, responded swiftly and forcefully on his Truth Social platform, declaring:
“Any country aligning themselves with the anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.”
Solidarity with Iran
The summit also saw BRICS offer symbolic support to Iran — a member of the bloc since 2023 — condemning the recent wave of military strikes on Iranian nuclear and strategic sites by Israeli and U.S. forces.
Although some BRICS members maintain close ties with the West, the joint communiqué reflected a shared stance against what was described as “escalating militarism and disregard for international norms.”
Despite differences within the bloc, BRICS called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demanded the “full withdrawal of Israeli forces” after nearly two years of war. The bloc also reaffirmed its commitment to a two-state solution, even as members like Iran — which does not recognise Israel — expressed reservations about this position.
A senior Iranian diplomatic source confirmed that Iran’s concerns were formally conveyed to Brazil, which currently holds the BRICS presidency. However, Tehran did not oppose the declaration outright.
Absences and Divisions
This year’s summit was notable for the absence of several key leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped the meeting for the first time in 12 years, while Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is under an international arrest warrant over the war in Ukraine, addressed the summit virtually.
Putin lauded BRICS as a “key player in global governance,” amid mounting Western sanctions on Moscow.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister also skipped Sunday’s session. Though a BRICS member since 2023, the Gulf nation maintains close military and strategic ties with the U.S., complicating its positioning within the group.
Geopolitical Influence and Technology Focus
Conceived as a platform for major emerging economies, BRICS has evolved into a political counterweight to U.S. and Western European influence. However, the bloc continues to grapple with internal divisions on core issues such as the Gaza war, economic integration, and institutional reform.
Despite this, the group called for a stronger regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, asserting that AI development should not be dominated by a few wealthy nations. The commercial AI space is currently led by U.S. tech firms, but China, India, and Brazil are rapidly expanding their capacities.
Looking Ahead
With global trade tensions mounting, wars raging in the Middle East and Europe, and the dominance of Western institutions increasingly challenged, the BRICS Summit served as a reminder of the shifting balance of power in international relations.
While the summit’s unified tone signals deepening frustration with U.S. policies, the absence of key leaders and diverging national interests reflect the challenges BRICS faces in becoming a cohesive global force. Still, the bloc’s call for fairness, multilateralism, and reform of global governance systems underscores its ambition to redefine the rules of the global order.
