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BRICS Leaders Slam Trump Tariffs threat, Criticize Israeli-U.S. Strikes on Iran at Summit

By The South Asia Times

BRAZIL - BRICS leaders on Sunday issued a joint rebuke of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies and recent Israeli-American military strikes on Iran, using a summit of emerging economies to push back against what they called "indiscriminate" and destabilizing actions.

The 11-member bloc, composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and newer entrants including Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia, represents roughly half the world’s population and nearly 40 percent of global economic output.

While often divided on geopolitical issues, the group found rare unity in expressing concern over Washington’s unilateral actions, particularly Trump’s reimposition of tariffs that have disrupted global trade flows and rattled developing economies.

In a carefully worded statement that avoided naming Trump directly, the leaders criticized the use of "indiscriminate and protectionist trade measures," a clear reference to the president’s escalating tariff confrontations with China, the EU, and other global trading partners.

The bloc also condemned the recent joint Israeli-U.S. military actions targeting Iran, calling them a threat to regional peace and urging all parties to de-escalate tensions through diplomacy. Iran, now a member of the expanded BRICS, received strong backing from fellow members.

The summit underscored BRICS’ growing ambition to present a multipolar alternative to Western-led institutions, particularly as tensions between the Global South and the traditional power centers in Washington and Brussels continue to grow.