BRICS countries respond as Trump issues a warning about tariffs

World leaders pose for a group photo at the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Silvia Izquierdo/AP

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The president of Brazil has announced that the BRICS coalition of significant emerging economies has just wrapped up its most crucial summit to date.

However, what was promoted as a landmark demonstration of solidarity and strength concluded with heightened tensions following President Donald Trump's warning of new tariffs. "Any country that aligns itself with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will incur an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. This policy will have no exceptions," he stated on Truth Social, without specifying which policies he was referring to.
This prompted an immediate response from Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who presided over the summit and labeled Trump's remarks as reckless."We do not desire an emperor; we are independent nations," Lula stated during his concluding remarks on Monday, adding: "It is inappropriate for a president of a nation as large as the United States to threaten the world through social media."
The annual BRICS summit—comprising founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, along with new members such as Indonesia, Ethiopia, and Iran—sought to offer a cohesive Global South alternative to Western influence.
However, in a bid to avoid antagonizing Washington, the group released a subdued final statement that refrained from mentioning Trump or directly criticizing the U.S. This strategy backfired, according to Oliver Stuenkel, an international relations professor at Brazil's FGV University.
"They likely thought they could remain under Trump's radar by not referencing the U.S.," he remarked. "But that clearly did not work."
South Africa, a founding member of BRICS, also entered the discussion regarding Trump. President Cyril Ramaphosa informed reporters at the summit that "the powerful should not seek retribution against those striving for good in the world." China denounced the use of tariffs as a form of coercive diplomacy.
Trump heightened tensions by openly endorsing Lula's political opponent, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently on trial for his efforts to overturn the 2022 election results. Lula chose not to comment.While pointed remarks were made regarding the increasing U.S. tariffs and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the group softened its criticism of its own members. Vladimir Putin of Russia received no censure concerning the conflict in Ukraine. The group's 31-page declaration included only one mention of the war in Ukraine, denouncing "in the strongest terms" the recent Ukrainian assaults on Russia.
Iran was portrayed not for its nuclear ambitions, but as a victim of Israeli airstrikes. In contrast, Israel was referenced over a dozen times, held responsible for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza as well as strikes in Syria and Lebanon.
The summit was also marked by significant absences. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was anticipated to attend prior to last month's Israeli and U.S. airstrikes, instead sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. President Putin, who is under an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to Ukraine, participated remotely. China's President Xi Jinping was represented by Premier Li Qiang.
The increasing diversity of the group presents both an advantage and a challenge: while the addition of new members expands its influence, achieving consensus is becoming more difficult — a reality evident in the diluted criticism of U.S. airstrikes on Iran.
Despite these differences, Lula remained steadfast in his vision for BRICS.
"This is not a club of the privileged," he stated. "It's a coalition of nations striving to reshape the world—centered on people and development, rather than conflict."
As Brazil prepares to pass the rotating presidency of the group, Lula is advocating for a renewed emphasis on climate and development. The conclusion of the summit served as a test for the bloc's future—one where the challenge of balancing global aspirations with internal disagreements, while avoiding backlash from the West, continues to be a delicate endeavor.
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