As U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade war unsettles the global economy and hampers consensus within traditional multilateral forums like the G20, the BRICS coalition is seizing the moment to assert itself as a key global player. The group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and recently expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE, now represents nearly half of the world’s population and about 40% of global GDP, positioning it as a formidable alternative platform for international economic and political cooperation.
In a recent two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro, BRICS foreign ministers focused heavily on formulating a unified response to the tariffs and trade barriers imposed by the Trump administration. China, facing tariffs as high as 145% on many exports to the U.S., voiced strong opposition to what it called “unilateral trade actions” that undermine international fairness and security. While the group stopped short of explicitly naming the U.S. or Trump in their communique, the collective stance clearly signals discontent with Washington’s protectionist policies and a desire for closer collaboration among BRICS members to counterbalance these pressures.
Brazil, holding the BRICS presidency in 2025, is leveraging this momentum to elevate the bloc’s global influence. Brazilian officials emphasize that BRICS is not an anti-American coalition but a platform aimed at promoting the development of emerging economies and fostering multilateralism amid a fracturing global order. Brazil’s leadership is pushing for enhanced intra-BRICS trade, climate change cooperation, public health collaboration, and reforms in global governance institutions like the UN, WTO, IMF, and World Bank to better serve developing countries.
The expansion of BRICS to include new members from Africa and the Middle East reflects its ambition to represent the “Global South” more effectively and challenge the dominance of Western-led groups such as the G7 and G20. However, internal differences among members-such as China’s more confrontational stance toward the U.S. and India’s cautious approach-pose challenges to unity. Additionally, border tensions between China and India and divergent foreign policy priorities complicate efforts to present a cohesive front.
Despite these hurdles, BRICS is increasingly seen as a platform capable of addressing the economic and geopolitical turmoil exacerbated by Trump’s trade war and the weakening of consensus-driven forums like the G20. By promoting principles of reciprocity, mutual respect, and inclusive development, BRICS aims to reshape the global economic architecture, reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, and provide emerging economies with a stronger voice on the world stage.In conclusion, as the G20 struggles with internal divisions and diminished effectiveness amid rising protectionism, BRICS is positioning itself as a vital alternative for global cooperation, particularly for developing nations. The bloc’s growing membership, strategic agenda under Brazil’s leadership, and collective response to trade disruptions signal its intent to fill the leadership void and champion a more balanced, multipolar world order.