The BRICS group of developing nations on Sunday condemned rising global tariffs and military attacks on Iran but stopped short of naming US President Donald Trump or directly criticizing member states like Russia. The group’s joint declaration also condemned Israel's military actions in the Middle East while mentioning the ongoing war in Ukraine only once.
The two-day summit, hosted in Rio de Janeiro, was overshadowed by the absence of key leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping skipped a BRICS summit for the first time since taking power in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the meeting via videoconference, continuing to limit his international travel due to an arrest warrant related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In an apparent swipe at the US, the group expressed “serious concerns” over tariff hikes, stating they are “inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules” and could “threaten reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty.”
Responding on his social media platform, Trump warned of new tariffs, saying any nation aligning with “the Anti-American policies of BRICS” would face an additional 10% tariff.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, hosting the summit, criticized NATO's plan to raise military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 — a position later reflected in the BRICS declaration.
“It is always easier to invest in war than in peace,” Lula said at the summit’s opening session, which continues Monday.
Iranian presence and condemnation of Middle East violence
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expected to attend, stayed away following last month’s attacks on Iran. His foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, represented the country instead.
The BRICS declaration condemned the attacks on Iran but avoided mentioning the US or Israel, the countries believed to have carried them out.
In his address, Araghchi urged BRICS leaders to push for strong international condemnation of Israel. He also called for accountability from Israel and the US for alleged human rights violations.
“The aftermath of the war will not be limited to one country,” Araghchi warned. “The entire region and beyond will be damaged.”
BRICS leaders voiced “grave concern” over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, called for the release of hostages, and urged a return to negotiations in support of a two-state solution.
However, in a later statement on Telegram, Araghchi expressed Iran’s reservations about the two-state proposal, saying it “will not work, just as it has not worked in the past.”
Separately, Russia's foreign ministry used Telegram to name the US and Israel directly, condemning their “unprovoked military strikes” against Iran.
Russia spared criticism, Ukraine mentioned once
Despite Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict, the BRICS declaration mentioned Ukraine only once, while condemning “in the strongest terms” recent Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
“We recall our national positions concerning the conflict in Ukraine as expressed in the appropriate fora, including the U.N. Security Council and the U.N. General Assembly,” the declaration said.
João Alfredo Nyegray, an international business and geopolitics professor at the Pontifical Catholic University in Parana, said BRICS missed an opportunity to present itself as a unified alternative to global instability.
BRICS summit opens in Brazil amid Trump tariff concerns
“The withdrawal of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the uncertainty about the level of representation for countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are confirming the difficulty for the BRICS to establish themselves as a cohesive pole of global leadership,” Nyegray said. “This moment demands high-level articulation, but we are actually seeing dispersion.”
Trump tariffs loom as Brazil treads carefully
While Lula advocated for reform of global institutions, Brazil avoided provocative topics to shield its economy from Trump’s threats of higher tariffs.
Trump has already warned of 100% tariffs on BRICS nations if they attempt to undermine the US dollar. At last year’s BRICS summit hosted by Russia, the Kremlin pushed for alternatives to US-controlled payment systems to bypass sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Brazil deliberately steered the summit toward less controversial topics like boosting trade among members and global health cooperation, according to Ana Garcia, a professor at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro.
“Brazil wants the least amount of damage possible and to avoid drawing the attention of the Trump administration to prevent any type of risk to the Brazilian economy,” Garcia explained.
Expansion and divisions within BRICS
Founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS expanded last year to include Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates.
The group also created a new “strategic partner” category that includes Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam.
Brazil placed institutional development on the summit agenda to integrate new members and strengthen internal unity.
Despite internal challenges, the summit remains significant for member states, particularly amid global tensions and Trump’s tariff policies, said Bruce Scheidl, a researcher with the University of Sao Paulo’s BRICS study group.
“The summit offers the best opportunity for emerging countries to respond, in the sense of seeking alternatives and diversifying their economic partnerships,” Scheidl said.
Protests and domestic backdrop
Earlier Sunday, a pro-Israel group staged a protest on Rio’s Ipanema beach by placing dozens of rainbow flags, criticizing Iran's policies toward LGBT+ individuals. On Saturday, Amnesty International protested Brazil’s plans for offshore oil exploration near the Amazon River’s mouth.
For Lula, the summit also provided a temporary respite from domestic political challenges, including declining popularity and tensions with Congress.
The event served as a platform to advance environmental protection commitments ahead of November’s COP 30 climate talks in the Amazonian city of Belém.