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BRICS Leaders Converge in Rio Amidst Trade Tensions and Middle East Divides
BRICS nations gather in Rio de Janeiro to address global trade challenges posed by new US tariffs, yet face internal struggles over Middle East crises. High-profile absences from leaders like China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin cast a shadow over the summit's diplomatic impact, even as the expanded bloc seeks to project a united front.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Leaders from the BRICS(Brazil,Russia,India,China & South Africa) bloc, now representing a significant portion of the world's population and economic output, are convening in Rio de Janeiro this Sunday (July 6, 2025) with a clear agenda: to express their collective dismay over the hardline trade policies enacted by US President Donald Trump. However, the summit's aspirations for a unified stance are proving challenging, particularly when it comes to the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East.
Sources close to the summit negotiations reveal that the emerging nations, which now include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, are set to decry what they perceive as unfair US import tariffs. Since taking office in January, President Trump has implemented a series of punitive tariffs, with his latest move involving letters, due to be sent out from Friday (July 4, 2025), informing trading partners of new tariff rates expected to take effect next week on July 9.
While the final declaration from the summit is unlikely to explicitly name the United States or its president, it is anticipated to be a clear political message aimed squarely at Washington. Marta Fernandez, director of the BRICS Policy Center at Rio’s Pontifical Catholic University, suggests a "cautious tone" is expected, especially from China, which has only recently navigated a period of intense tit-for-tat levies with the US. "This doesn’t seem to be the right time to provoke further friction" between the world's two largest economies, Ms. Fernandez noted.
Noteworthy Absences and Shifting Dynamics
The summit's potential political punch is undoubtedly lessened by the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is skipping the annual meeting for the first time in his 12-year presidency. Ryan Hass, a former China director at the US National Security Council, believes the simplest explanation for Xi's no-show might be that he recently hosted Brazilian President Lula in Beijing.
Similarly, Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing a war crime indictment, has also opted out of an in-person appearance, though he will participate via video link. Hass speculates that Putin's non-attendance, coupled with the fact that India’s Prime Minister is set to be a guest of honour in Brazil, might have also influenced Xi's decision, suggesting that "Mr. Xi does not want to appear upstaged by PM Modi."
Despite these high-profile absences, which represent a blow to host President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s ambition for Brazil to assume a more prominent global role, the BRICS group is undeniably expanding its international reach. The inclusion of new members like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia has increased the bloc's "potential international punch," as analysts suggest, but it has also introduced new complexities and potential fault lines.
Middle East Divides and a Push for Unity
The ongoing conflicts in Gaza and between Iran and Israel are proving to be a particularly thorny issue. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, whose nation is still recovering from a 12-day conflict with Israel, is also notably absent from the meeting. A source familiar with the negotiations indicated that BRICS nations remain divided on how to respond, with Iranian negotiators pushing for a stronger collective stance beyond simply advocating for a Palestinian state and peaceful dispute resolution.
Brazil, as the host, remains hopeful that the member states can achieve a common front, even on the most sensitive issues. Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira expressed optimism, stating, "BRICS (countries), throughout their history, have managed to speak with one voice on major international issues, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be the case this time on the subject of the Middle East."
Beyond geopolitics, the summit's agenda also includes discussions on artificial intelligence and global health, reflecting the diverse and evolving priorities of this influential bloc of emerging economies. As Brazil prepares to host a G20 summit and COP30 international climate talks before its own fiercely contested presidential elections next year, the outcomes of this BRICS gathering will be keenly watched.
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