Overview

• Speaking at the White House alongside Argentina’s President Javier Milei, President Donald Trump warned he will levy tariffs on countries that join or align with BRICS and called the grouping “anti-United States.”
• Trump asserted that his tariff threats prompted countries to quit the bloc, saying “everybody dropped out,” a statement not corroborated by reporting from multiple outlets.
• Coverage notes BRICS has expanded since 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, countering the notion of withdrawals.
• Indian officials have reiterated that New Delhi has no interest in undermining the dollar, and BRICS discussions on local currencies have not produced a unified push for de-dollarisation or a common currency.
• Analysts caution that sweeping U.S. tariffs could trigger retaliation, disrupt trade and supply chains, and potentially hasten efforts by emerging economies to diversify away from the dollar.