Why it matters:
The tariff blackmail comes as the U.S. is concerned about the de-dollarization, a measure on the agenda of the independent countries of the BRICS bloc. BRICS represents 40% of global GDP, 26% of international trade, and nearly half of the world’s population.
What he’s saying:
Lula said BRICS nations “have been victims of unjust and illegal trade measures,” adding that “tariff blackmail has become a common tool to seize markets and interfere in the internal affairs of countries.”
He warned that extraterritorial actions threaten the institutions of BRICS members and stressed that secondary sanctions restrict their freedom to trade with partners.
“The Global South can offer an alternative model of development and reject the logic of a new Cold War,” he said.
What they’re saying:
Xi Jinping, China’s president, echoed Lula’s concerns, warning that “hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism are increasingly spreading,” with trade and tariff wars severely disrupting the global economy.
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, joined the session, with the Kremlin noting that discussions covered cooperation in trade, finance, and investment amid current global economic challenges.
Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, proposed a “joint BRICS front against Western sanctions,” stressing that such policies “not only threaten the national interests of independent states but also disrupt global cooperation and make sustainable development impossible.”
Key points:
- The 90-minute virtual summit was initiated by Lula and attended by leaders of China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, and South Africa.
- Other participants included UAE Crown Prince Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Ethiopia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hedra Abra.
Go deeper:
Iran’s President Urges BRICS to Counter Unilateralism, Reform Global Order
ahmad shirzadian - seyed mohammad kazemi
