BRICS countries criticize Trump's tariffs, denounce US airstrikes on Iran
In a significant show of unity, the BRICS nations, along with new members including Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, have expressed strong opposition to US President Donald Trump's tariff policies at the 2025 BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro.
The bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, voiced "serious concerns" about the tariffs imposed by the US, warning that these measures risk disrupting global economic stability and trade. The leaders condemned the tariffs as illegal, indiscriminate, and potentially harmful to the global economy.
In response, President Trump has escalated tensions by warning that any country aligning with what he calls "anti-American BRICS policies" will face an additional 10% tariff. This move represents a hardening of US trade policy, shifting away from negotiations toward unilateral tariff impositions.
The BRICS members have also condemned US military actions, such as strikes on Iranian facilities, and called out what they describe as double standards in counterterrorism and global security, particularly affecting the Global South. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi notably criticized these "double standards" in the context of terrorism, reflecting broader geopolitical friction between the BRICS countries and the US.
Leaders within BRICS, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, have publicly raised these concerns, framing the US tariffs as part of a broader strategy that the bloc rejects as harmful and unjustified.
Despite the lack of new joint initiatives or agreements, the confrontation underscores growing tensions between the US and emerging economies represented by BRICS, with significant implications for global economic cooperation and trade stability.
The BRICS bloc, which accounts for approximately 40% of global economic output, issued a joint statement expressing their concerns about the impact of unilateral tariffs on the global economy. However, they did not directly name US President Donald Trump in their criticism of his tariff policies.
This confrontation comes as President Trump has threatened to impose unilateral levies on partners unless they reach "deals" by August 1. In the past, he has threatened allies and rivals alike with a series of punitive duties. However, in the face of a fierce market sell-off, Trump offered a months-long reprieve from these threats.
In a symbolic show of support, the BRICS leaders offered backing to Iran following military strikes on nuclear and other targets by Israel and the United States.
The BRICS summit declaration did not criticize the United States or its president by name, but the leaders found common cause in their criticism of US President Donald Trump's tariff wars. The BRICS leaders did not discuss any new topics related to Israeli-US strikes on Iran during the summit.
The BRICS leaders continued their criticism of US President Donald Trump's tariff wars, regarding them as a part of a broader strategy that the bloc finds harmful and unjustified. Despite the lack of new joint initiatives or agreements, the confrontation highlights the growing tensions between the US and the emerging economies represented by BRICS, with significant implications for global policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news related to war-and-conflicts and economics.
