By Carlos Meneses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 7 (EFE). – The BRICS leaders’ summit ended tumultuously on Monday in Rio de Janeiro following threats from United States President Donald Trump, to which the group responded emphatically by asserting its autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It is not right for a country the size of the United States to threaten the world via the internet. The world has changed. We do not want an emperor. We are sovereign countries,” said Brazilian President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva, host of the meeting, at a press conference at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Sunday, the first day of the summit, the leaders reached a consensus on a 126-point statement addressing critical topics such as Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, and tariffs, as well as issues of particular interest to Brazil, the current chair of the forum, including reform of multilateral institutions, climate, and health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The document did not directly mention the United States, even though it seemed to refer to President Donald Trump on many issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the balance broke on Monday night when Trump took to social media and wrote: \u201cAny Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first reactions from the emerging bloc came before dawn in Rio. China, the most influential country within the BRICS, was among the first to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBRICS is an important platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. It advocates openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation. It is not a bloc for confrontation. Nor does it target any country,\u201d said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOn the US tariff hikes, China has made its position clear more than once. Trade war and tariff war have no winners, and protectionism leads nowhere,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov agreed, saying that the BRICS “is an association of countries united by shared approaches and a common vision of how to build cooperation rooted in their own interests.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This interaction has never been, and will never be, aimed against any third parties,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Rio, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazilian President Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva were more forceful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is really disappointing that when there is such a very positive collective manifestation, such as BRICS, there should be others who see it in a negative light and want to punish those who participate,\u201d said the former.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lula dismissed Trump’s stance as \u201cirresponsible and misguided,\u201d noting that the US threats did not disrupt the summit’s harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He emphasized that the ongoing trade negotiations between the US and its partners, including India, regarding Trump’s announced reduction of universal tariffs in April, were not mentioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, Trump also became fully involved in Brazil’s domestic politics by defending former President Jair Bolsonaro, his political ally, who is being prosecuted in the Supreme Court for allegedly attempting a coup after losing the 2022 elections to Lula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Brazilian president, a leading figure on the Latin American left, also addressed an issue that is deeply sensitive for his US counterpart: the hegemony of the dollar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump has threatened to punish BRICS countries with a 100% tariff if they undermine the greenback’s international power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group of emerging countries distanced itself from “de-dollarization;” however, it is moving forward with payment and transfer systems using local currencies, so developing countries suffer less from currency market fluctuations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this context, Lula predicted on Monday that the dollar will eventually cease to be the international reference currency, which enables the US to finance itself at low interest rates despite its delicate fiscal situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We have a responsibility to do this very carefully. Our central banks must discuss it, but it’s irreversible and it will happen gradually until it’s consolidated,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government ended successfully, despite the absence of the leaders of China and Russia, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, respectively, and despite Trump overshadowing the final day dedicated to addressing the climate crisis and eradicating neglected diseases. EFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cms-cm-mat\/mcd<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"