The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) are preparing to adopt a unified stance opposing U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs, Middle East tensions, and climate change policies. In a draft statement ahead of their summit in Brazil starting Sunday, July 6, 2025 — just three days before the expiration of Trump’s three-month tariff suspension — BRICS nations expressed “serious concern” over unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures, according to Bloomberg.
The heads of state will also condemn the imposition of “unilateral coercive measures that violate international law.” While not explicitly naming the Trump administration, the emerging market powerhouses clearly reference the U.S. amid backlash against the punitive tariffs imposed by the American president globally.
Countries facing retaliatory tariffs, including founding BRICS member India, are rushing to negotiate deals with the U.S. before Trump’s July 9 deadline for the tariffs to take effect. At the same time, the reluctance to directly confront Trump reflects internal divisions within the bloc, as some members like India maintain closer ties with Washington than others, amid concerns that BRICS could become a vehicle for China’s economic interests.
Nevertheless, BRICS nations hosted in Rio de Janeiro by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva find themselves at odds with the Trump administration on several policy fronts, particularly regarding the Middle East conflict. Multiple references in the draft text point to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Leaders may express “serious concern” about the situation in Palestinian territories, citing the resumption of Israeli attacks and the obstruction of humanitarian aid into Gaza, according to officials. The proposed language includes condemnation of the use of hunger as a weapon of war — a direct reference to allegations made against Israel, which it denies. They are also considering a call for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and opposition to the forced displacement of any Palestinian population from their land.
Such a declaration — if included in the final version when leaders conclude their two-day summit on July 7 — could cause diplomatic friction as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet Trump at the White House the same day.
Additionally, BRICS leaders are expected to reaffirm their support for the Paris Climate Agreement — a pact Trump unilaterally withdrew from — while calling for global governance of artificial intelligence to mitigate potential risks, according to officials. The U.S. leads in AI development and has resisted regulatory efforts by entities such as the European Union.
The BRICS group now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. The declaration is set to welcome an additional 10 partner countries, including Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Thailand.