BRICS 2025 | Trump vs. BRICS: Tariff Threats Signal a New Economic Cold War

In a pointed warning ahead of the BRICS 2025 Rio summit in Brazil, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened an additional 10% tariff on nations perceived to be aligning with BRICS’ so-called “anti-American policies.” The threat comes as the bloc intensifies its call for reforms at global institutions like the IMF and UN Security Council.

Despite Trump’s remarks, BRICS nations – especially the newer members – have publicly rejected the anti-American label, arguing instead for balanced multilateralism and a new global economic order no longer dominated by the West.

Brazil’s President Lula da Silva, hosting the 2025 BRICS summit in Rio, tersely rebuked Trump’s rhetoric during a press Q&A:

“The world has changed. We don’t want an emperor.”

He added that BRICS is about “finding another way of organising the world from the economic perspective” and noted,

“I think that’s why the BRICS are making people uncomfortable.”

Lula also emphasized a shift away from dollar-centric trade:

“The world needs to find a way that our trade relations don’t have to pass through the dollar.”

He clarified this must be done ‘carefully,’ via gradual discussions between central banks.

Lula’s remarks are noteworthy because:

• He criticized Trump’s threats as irresponsible and undignified, likening them to the behavior of an emperor.
• He emphasized BRICS’ aim to economic diversification, not anti-American confrontation.
• He reiterated the bloc’s ambition to reduce dependency on the U.S. dollar through careful, multilateral coordination.

BRICS 10 members and 10 partners make up 44% of the GDP in terms of PPP.

U.S. Sanctions and Their Ripple Effect in Africa

This latest U.S. warning follows a pattern of sanctions and financial restrictions targeting countries viewed as geopolitical threats. BitKE has previously reported how such policies have:

• Pushed African countries to explore alternative financial systems like CBDCs and blockchain rails
• Driven up demand for BRICS-led payment systems such as the proposed common settlement framework using local currencies
• Encouraged African crypto innovation outside the reach of Western-led financial intermediaries

A classic example of this was in 2024 where U.S. sanctions on Ethiopia during the Tigray conflict accelerated digital financial infrastructure investments by China and Russia.

Why Africa Matters in BRICS

The inclusion of South Africa (2010), Egypt, and Ethiopia (2024) reflects the bloc’s ambition to anchor a multipolar global economy in the Global South. Africa’s role is particularly strategic due to:

• Rapid digital and fintech growth
• Resource wealth and trade corridors
• A young, tech-savvy population shaping decentralized economies

As of July 2025, the African countries that are members of BRICS are:

• South Africa (joined in 2010)
• Egypt (joined in 2024 as part of the BRICS+ expansion)
• Ethiopia (joined in 2024 alongside Egypt)

These three nations represent Africa’s voice within the BRICS+ bloc, which now includes 10 members globally. Their participation reflects Africa’s growing strategic and economic importance in shaping a multipolar world.

Here are the African countries that have formally applied to join BRICS (either as full members or partner countries):

Applied for Full Membership

• Algeria – Submitted application in 2022; later withdrew in September 2024
• Egypt – Formally applied in 2023; subsequently admitted as a full member in January 2024 .
• Ethiopia – Applied in June 2023; joined full membership in January 2024
• Nigeria – Became a BRICS “partner country” in January 2025
• Senegal – One of several African nations that formally submitted membership applications

These African states have expressed interest or applied informally, indicating growing engagement with the bloc:

• Angola
• Cameroon
• Comoros
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Gabon
• Guinea‑Bissau
• Zambia
• South Sudan
• Uganda

As reported by BitKE in early 2025, Kenya apparently sought China’s help to join the BRICS bloc in November 2024.

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the evolving Kenyan and African regulatory crypto space.

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