BRICS Leaders Condemn US-Israeli Strikes and Trade Tariffs
BRICS nations adopted a joint declaration in Rio de Janeiro condemning military strikes on Iran and US tariffs, prompting Donald Trump to threaten additional levies on aligned countries.
The 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro concluded with the adoption of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, a 126-point agreement focused on reforming global governance and strengthening Global South cooperation. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil and summit host, positioned the bloc as the heir to the Non-Aligned Movement, advocating for a multipolar world order and the reform of the UN Security Council and IMF.
The bloc issued a joint statement condemning military strikes against Iranian civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities since June 13, 2025, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Members also criticized unilateral trade tariffs as violations of World Trade Organization rules. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on any country aligning with the "anti-American policies of BRICS" and previously warned of 100% tariffs for any efforts to replace the U.S. dollar with a common currency.
The summit was marked by the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was represented by Premier Li Qiang, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who participated via video link due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. Despite these absences, the bloc expanded its influence by formally inducting Indonesia as a full member and welcoming 10 partner countries, including Nigeria and Vietnam. The New Development Bank also expanded its membership to include Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Internal frictions persisted over critical mineral dominance and the conflict in Ukraine, though the group reached consensus on AI governance and climate finance. India is scheduled to assume the BRICS chairmanship in 2026.
