As leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the 17th BRICS Summit, a senior Chinese expert publicly dismissed U.S. President Trump's claim that the bloc pursues an "anti-American" policy.
"BRICS has adhered to the principles of dialogue over confrontation and partnership over alliance since its inception," said Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies, in remarks to CGTN. "We are not targeting any third party, nor engaging in confrontation with anyone."
Wang's comments follow Trump's warning that he would impose a 10 percent tariff on nations aligning with BRICS. But the expert argues that such pressure may backfire. "By misunderstanding BRICS as an anti-America alliance, Trump and some Western nations risk fueling deeper cohesion within the group," Wang noted.
Echoing this tone, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told delegates, "The world has changed. We don't want an emperor," underscoring calls for a more equal global order.
BRICS nations now outpace the G7 in overall economic scale and together represent more than 40 percent of the world's population. As the heart of the Global South shifts from the margins to the center of international affairs, member states are pushing de-dollarization and reforms aimed at making global governance more inclusive and fair.
For young entrepreneurs and policy thinkers, this debate illuminates how emerging-market alliances aren't zero-sum contests but efforts to rebalance power in a multipolar world. As the summit wraps up in Rio, all eyes will be on whether BRICS can translate newfound momentum into lasting reforms.
Reference(s):
Chinese expert dismisses Trump's claim BRICS is 'anti-American'
cgtn.com
