BRICS Aims to Fill the Void Left by G-20 Amid Trump’s Trade War

Major emerging-market countries are striving to transform BRICS into a global forum capable of addressing the economic and political chaos unleashed by Trump’s trade war. The foreign ministers of BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—are meeting for the first time since Trump’s policies upended not only the global economy but also traditional multilateral institutions like the G-20, where consensus has become impossible. The turmoil has placed BRICS in a position to leverage the kind of global influence its prominent members have sought for years, especially after expanding to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc now represents about half the world’s population and roughly 40% of global GDP. During a two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS foreign ministers will focus on responding to Trump’s tariffs. China, facing 145% duties on most exports to the U.S., aims to use the meeting to counteract these measures. While other countries want BRICS to publicly criticize Trump, reaching consensus among members remains challenging. Established nearly two decades ago, BRICS was never intended to challenge U.S. international leadership or dismantle a global order led by Washington and the West. However, Brazil’s agenda places BRICS as a potential bulwark of multilateralism during an era when Trump has imposed tariffs globally, turned his back on international institutions, and expressed doubts about continued U.S. involvement in the G-20. Efforts to strengthen trade ties and enhance local payment systems among BRICS nations highlight their push for greater global influence against unilateral U.S. decisions.