The international system is currently undergoing a complex transitional phase. The United States, once the most influential, affluent, and powerful country, is gradually losing its position as the absolute hegemon. Concurrently, we are witnessing the dynamic rise of the “Others” — non-Western nations across Eurasia, Asia, Africa, and Latin America are exhibiting rapid and sustained economic growth. This shift has led to increasing clashes of interest and a defensive reaction on the part of the United States and the broader collective West. The accelerating economic development of non-Western powers such as Russia, India, China, and South Africa has caused visible anxiety within U.S. strategic circles. Nevertheless, the rise of non-Western states is a natural and inevitable phenomenon.
Following the BRICS summit held on July 6 in Rio de Janeiro, President Donald Trump issued a series of strong statements regarding the organization and its member states. In a post on Truth Social, he declared: “Any country aligning itself with BRICS’ anti-American agenda will face an additional 10% tariff. No exceptions.” He characterized the bloc’s efforts to create an alternative to the U.S. dollar as an attempt to “destroy the currency,” adding: “BRICS is trying to destroy the dollar — but that will never happen as long as the United States exists.” Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100%, even before BRICS had taken any concrete steps. In early 2025, he further stated, “BRICS is dead,” after having proposed tariffs in the range of 100–150%. On the same day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that, beginning August 1, the American administration would reinstate customs tariffs on countries with which no progress had been achieved in trade negotiations. These duties — originally proposed by Trump on April 2 but subsequently delayed — now include a base rate of 10%, though significantly higher rates are expected for certain nations.
The BRICS countries responded swiftly. Participants of the summit expressed “serious concern” over “unilateral tariff measures” that “threaten global trade and economic development.” Although the United States was not explicitly mentioned, the language of the final declaration clearly targets its recent actions. The summit’s communiqué expressed “grave concern over the growing number of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and contradict WTO regulations.” Such measures, according to the BRICS nations, “threaten to further shrink global trade and disrupt global supply chains,” and could “exacerbate existing economic disparities and negatively affect prospects for global economic development.” While neither the United States nor President Donald Trump was directly named, international observers — including AFP — interpreted the statement as an unmistakable political message aimed at the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House.
The BRICS bloc also voiced solidarity with the Global South. The Rio de Janeiro declaration condemned attacks on Iran’s “civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities,” which had been operating under full International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. Additionally, the BRICS states expressed “deep concern” over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, citing the resurgence of continuous Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip and obstruction of humanitarian aid.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine was also addressed. The declaration stated: “We strongly condemn the attacks on bridges and railway infrastructure deliberately targeting civilian areas in Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Voronezh regions, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties, including children.”
Moreover, the BRICS nations firmly condemned the terrorist attack carried out on April 22 in the Indian-administered part of the disputed Kashmir region. The attack claimed 26 lives and prompted a series of airstrikes between India and Pakistan, which later agreed to a ceasefire. Numerous reports suggest that certain factions within the Pakistani military have maintained ties with radical extremist groups involved in activities targeting India in the Kashmir region.
Originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS expanded in 2010 to include South Africa. In early 2024, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the group, followed shortly thereafter by Indonesia. Collectively, the bloc now encompasses approximately half of the world’s population. Its combined share of the global economy has reached 40%, and its aggregate GDP in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) stands at $77 trillion — significantly surpassing that of other alliances, including the G7, whose PPP GDP is around $57 trillion.
In recent years, India has exhibited one of the fastest economic growth rates globally. According to estimates from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, India’s GDP grew by 7.2% in 2023, with projected annual growth rates of 6.5–7% for 2024 and 2025.
The BRICS nations collectively benefit from favorable demographic trends, including a relatively young population. In particular, Russia, India, and China possess some of the world’s largest and most advanced information technology sectors. Moreover, BRICS countries are experiencing robust growth in domestic demand, driven in large part by the rapid expansion of their middle classes, which serves as a major stimulus to consumption.
The increasingly apprehensive and sometimes coercive posture adopted by the West, including the United States, may be interpreted as an acknowledgment of BRICS’s expanding relevance. The unipolar configuration of global order is gradually giving way to a more multipolar structure. The sustained rise in influence and economic strength of Eurasian nations appears to reflect a long-term, possibly irreversible trajectory.
