US President Donald Trump has claimed that his threats of imposing tariffs successfully derailed the ambitions of the BRICS economic grouping, which he described as an “attack on the dollar.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking at a meeting with Argentinian counterpart Javier Milei, Trump asserted that his warnings led countries to “rethink their participation” and “drop out” of the alliance.
“I told anybody who wants to be in Brics, that’s fine, but we’re going to put tariffs on your nation,” Trump said. “Everybody dropped out. They’re all dropping out of Brics. Brics was an attack on the dollar and I said, you want to play that game, I’m going to put tariffs on all of your products coming into the US.”
geopolitics and BRICS Membership Status
Trump’s comments frame his use of tariffs as a victory for the dollar and American economic power amidst a renewed global push by the bloc for alternative trade mechanisms that challenge US financial dominance. The President has been outspoken in his opposition, calling the group “anti the United States” and threatening a 10% additional tariff on any country perceived to align with BRICS policies.
Despite Trump’s claim that nations are “dropping out,” the BRICS alliance has recently expanded:
- Original Members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
- 2024 Expansion: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined.
- 2025 Expansion: Indonesia joined.
However, the expansion has not been without complications. Argentina and Algeria, which had been invited or applied, subsequently declined or withdrew their applications.
India’s Stance
India, a founding member, has attempted to navigate the escalating tensions with a measured approach. India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar previously stated, “We have no issue with the dollar… We have no interest in undermining the dollar.”
These remarks, made in March 2025, preceded a sharp strain in US-India trade relations after President Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Would you like to see a comparison of the US and BRICS economies, or look into the specific trade tariffs imposed on India?
