Leaders of the BRICS nations gathering in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday are poised to voice strong opposition to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade tactics. However, they face internal discord over how to address escalating crises in the Middle East.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Representing nearly half of the world’s population and around 40% of global GDP, the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—is expected to issue a collective rebuke of what they deem unjust U.S. import tariffs, according to sources close to the summit negotiations.

Since assuming office in January, Trump has targeted both allies and adversaries with a series of steep tariffs. His latest move, beginning Friday, involves sending official notices to several trade partners ahead of new tariff hikes set for July 9.

Diplomats from 11 emerging economies have been working on a statement condemning the volatility these trade measures have introduced into the global economy. While the final communiqué is unlikely to explicitly name the U.S. or Trump, insiders say the message will unmistakably be directed at Washington.

“This summit will adopt a careful tone. It’s unlikely the United States will be mentioned by name,” said Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

Fernandez noted that China, which only recently reached a truce with the U.S. over mutual tariffs, is especially wary of igniting fresh tensions with Washington. “Now is not the time to stoke further conflict between the world’s two largest economies,” she added.

Xi’s Absence Overshadows Summit

Though BRICS was originally conceived as a coalition of fast-growing economies, it has increasingly evolved into a China-led alternative to Western influence. Yet, this year’s summit will lack some of its usual political weight due to the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping—his first time missing the annual gathering in 12 years.

“There will undoubtedly be speculation about why Xi chose to skip,” said Ryan Hass, a former China director at the U.S. National Security Council and now a fellow at the Brookings Institution. He suggested Xi may be stepping aside to avoid being overshadowed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is being honored with a state lunch by host President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, will also be absent in person, though he plans to join via video link, according to the Kremlin.

Hass suggested that the combined optics of Putin’s virtual attendance and Modi’s prominent role may have influenced Xi’s decision to delegate the trip to Premier Li Qiang instead.

For President Lula, Xi’s absence is a setback. In a single year, Brazil is hosting the G20 summit, the BRICS summit, and COP30 climate talks—an ambitious diplomatic push ahead of next year’s critical presidential elections in which Lula is expected to seek re-election.

Discord Over Middle East Response

Another major challenge for the summit is reaching a consensus on the conflicts in the Middle East. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose country recently endured a 12-day war with Israel, is also skipping the event.

Negotiators remain divided over the bloc’s official stance on both the Gaza conflict and the recent Iran-Israel confrontation. While some BRICS members prefer moderate language focused on peaceful resolution and Palestinian statehood, Iran is reportedly lobbying for a more assertive joint position.

Despite these challenges, host Brazil hopes the BRICS alliance can maintain a united front. “BRICS countries have historically spoken with one voice on major global issues, and we see no reason why this shouldn’t be the case now with the Middle East,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told AFP.

The summit will also tackle broader topics, including advancements in artificial intelligence and global health cooperation. With newer members like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Indonesia recently joining the group, analysts say BRICS is gaining geopolitical heft—though with that comes increased complexity and competing interests.