BRICS Nations Condemn Tariffs, Address Iran Attacks

Bloc sidesteps direct criticism of U.S., focuses on trade and regional stability.

At a summit marked by notable absences, the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, plus new members—voiced concerns over rising tariffs and attacks on Iran, while carefully avoiding direct condemnation of the U.S. or Donald Trump. The group also addressed the Russia-Ukraine conflict with caution.

Veiled Criticism of Trade Policies

The BRICS declaration indirectly criticized the U.S., expressing “serious concerns” about increasing tariffs deemed “inconsistent with WTO (World Trade Organization) rules.” These restrictions, they warned, “threaten to reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty.”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president and summit host, also took aim at NATO’s plan to increase military spending to 5% of GDP annually by 2035. “It is always easier to invest in war than in peace,” Lula remarked at the summit’s opening.

Iran’s Concerns

Amidst recent attacks on Iranian soil, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian sent Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to the summit. Araghchi called for strong condemnation of Israel and insisted on accountability for rights violations, warning that the war’s aftermath “will not be limited” to one country. The group expressed “grave concern” regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, advocating for hostage release and renewed negotiations.

In a separate statement on Telegram, Araghchi noted his government’s reservations about the two-state solution, deeming it ineffective. Russia’s foreign ministry, also via Telegram, explicitly condemned the “unprovoked military strikes” against Iran by the U.S. and Israel.

Russia Shielded

The summit’s 31-page declaration mentioned Ukraine sparingly, with only one reference condemning recent Ukrainian attacks on Russia. The group recalled their “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.”

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military expenditure reached a record high of $2443 billion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase in real terms from 2022 (SIPRI).

Navigating Trump’s Trade Threats

Despite calls for reforming Western-led global institutions, Brazil aimed to avoid becoming the target of higher tariffs. Trump had previously threatened 100% tariffs against the bloc if it undermined the dollar.

Ana Garcia, a professor at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University, suggested that Brazil strategically focused on less controversial issues, such as trade relations and global health, to sidestep potential risks from the Trump administration.

BRICS Expansion and Housekeeping

Originally founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, BRICS expanded last year to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. Belarus, Cuba, and Vietnam are among the ten strategic partner countries.

Bruce Scheidl, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo’s BRICS study group, highlighted the summit’s importance for emerging economies seeking alternatives amidst global instability. Pro-Israel activists protested Iran’s LGBT+ policies, while Amnesty International demonstrated against Brazil’s offshore oil drilling plans.

For Lula, the summit offered respite from domestic challenges and an opportunity to advance climate negotiations ahead of the COP 30 climate talks in Belém.