Leaders of the BRICS group on Sunday strongly criticised United States President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs and recent military actions in Iran, warning that these moves could hurt the global economy.
The summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, brought together members of the bloc made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and six others. Together, the 11 BRICS countries represent nearly half of the world’s population and 40 per cent of its economic power.
In a joint statement, BRICS nations expressed “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff” measures, saying they risked causing damage to international trade and growth. Although Trump was not directly mentioned, his recent actions were clearly the target.
Reacting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “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.”
The BRICS summit also condemned airstrikes carried out by the US and Israel on Iranian territory. These strikes, which hit nuclear-related and other sites in Iran, have drawn global attention in recent months.
Iran, which joined BRICS in 2023, welcomed the support but still shared some concerns about the group’s statements, according to a diplomat from Tehran. The bloc also demanded an immediate ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, where the war between Israel and Hamas has entered its 21st month.
Hamas responded by praising the BRICS declaration and urged the group to pressure Israel into ending what it called the “criminal siege” on Gaza.
However, unity among BRICS members appeared shaky. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister did not attend Sunday’s meeting. China’s President Xi Jinping was also absent for the first time in his 12 years of leading the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing international charges over the Ukraine war, joined through a video call.
Putin said BRICS had grown into an important voice in world politics and called for stronger rules around artificial intelligence. The group agreed that AI should not be controlled only by wealthy nations, noting the need for fair global regulation.
The summit came at a time when Trump’s trade threats and foreign policies have drawn wide criticism, not just from BRICS but also from global observers.
