Summary
- Russia accused the US of “neocolonial” economic tactics targeting Global South nations, including BRICS members.
- Moscow condemned Donald Trump’s new tariff regime, calling it an attack on national sovereignty and global supply chains.
- Russia pledged deeper cooperation within BRICS to resist sanctions and promote a multipolar world order.
Shifting Power and the Tariff Showdown
Moscow’s harsh rebuke of Washington’s latest trade policy marks a new flashpoint in the ongoing global realignment of power. As President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries, including strategic trade partners of Russia and members of the Global South, the Kremlin accused the United States of weaponizing commerce to retain its waning dominance.
Labeling the policy as “neocolonial,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Washington of waging a calculated campaign of economic intimidation, especially against countries opting for independent geopolitical paths. She insisted that US economic pressure on BRICS is an act of desperation in the face of an irreversible transition toward a multipolar world.
This outburst from Moscow came as Trump announced elevated tariffs targeting a wide range of imports, including critical sectors such as oil, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and rare earth minerals. The tariffs particularly affect developing economies and rising blocs like BRICS, which have gained clout in recent years for challenging the West’s monopoly over global governance and trade frameworks.
Zakharova declared, “Sanctions and restrictions have unfortunately become a defining feature of the current historical period. Unable to accept the erosion of its dominance, the US continues to pursue a neocolonial agenda against sovereign nations.”
Russia BLASTS US over Global South tariffs
— FreeRangeBum (@Free_Range_Bum) August 5, 2025
Washington pushing ‘neocolonial agenda’ out of FEAR of 'erosion of its dominance'
Moscow ‘READY to… RESIST unlawful unilateral sanctions'
'No tariff wars or sanctions can halt natural course of history' — FM spox Zakharova pic.twitter.com/sZBaOJFqzW
BRICS in the Crosshairs: Coordinated Pressure and Strategic Resistance
- Moscow argues that US tariffs target nations that represent alternatives to Western dependency.
- India, Brazil, and South Africa face growing scrutiny over Russian trade and non-Western oil imports.
The US economic pressure on BRICS has intensified following the group’s expansion in 2024 and 2025 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and most recently Indonesia. With growing trade volume and political influence, BRICS has increasingly become a counterweight to Western-led institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
Zakharova warned that the current strategy of tariff escalation and financial sanctions amounts to direct interference in sovereign affairs, particularly for BRICS nations pursuing self-determined energy and trade partnerships. “It is a direct encroachment on national sovereignty and an attempt to interfere in internal affairs,” she asserted.
India, for instance, has been directly named by Trump for importing “massive amounts of Russian oil.” The US President vowed to “substantially raise” tariffs on Indian products as punishment for selling Russian crude on the open market for what he termed “big profits.”
New Delhi, in a sharp rebuttal, reminded Washington that the US itself had initially encouraged India’s pivot to Russian oil to stabilize markets after the Ukraine war began. India’s Foreign Ministry further pointed out that many nations now criticizing India have themselves resumed or continued trade with Russia, often without critical necessity.
The escalating US economic pressure on BRICS reflects a broader trend of Western nations tightening trade policies not only against adversaries but also against neutral or non-aligned economies that choose independent supply chain strategies.
The Economics of Hegemony: Trade Fragmentation and Global Risks
- IMF data shows rising global protectionism could reduce world GDP by up to 7% in the long term.
- The WTO warns of a systemic breakdown in dispute resolution mechanisms amid unilateral sanctions.
The increasing reliance on tariffs and unilateral sanctions by the US is seen by many economists as a systemic threat to global trade norms. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the number of trade restrictions in force among G20 countries reached a record high in 2024, a trend that accelerated with the return of Trump-era policies.
The US economic pressure on BRICS contributes to what the WTO has termed “dangerous fragmentation,” where multilateral dispute resolution is replaced with economic coercion. Zakharova echoed these concerns, stating, “Contrary to the basic provisions in the area of free trade, which Western countries once promoted, we now see politically motivated protectionism.”
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that sustained fragmentation in global trade could shave off as much as 7% from the world’s GDP, equivalent to losing the combined economies of France and Germany. Emerging economies bear the brunt, particularly those integrated into new South-South supply chains spanning Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Amid this, BRICS nations have sought to decouple from dollar-centric systems by increasing bilateral trade in local currencies. Russia and India have expanded the use of the rupee and ruble in energy trade, while China continues to push for the yuan’s acceptance in Africa and the Middle East. These moves are considered essential for resisting the impact of US economic pressure on BRICS.
Global South Solidarity and the Future of Multilateralism
- Russia calls for a “truly equal” international order backed by BRICS and Global South alliances.
- Experts predict accelerated financial decoupling from US-led institutions and supply chains.
In her remarks, Zakharova emphasized that Russia would not stand alone in its resistance. “We are supported by a vast number of partners, like-minded states, and allies, particularly among the countries of the Global South and, above all, within BRICS,” she said.
This renewed momentum within BRICS highlights a strategic push toward south-south cooperation, technological independence, and financial sovereignty. The creation of the BRICS Pay system, ongoing discussions around a shared digital currency, and enhanced military exercises between member states reflect this growing synergy.
The US economic pressure on BRICS may therefore accelerate the very shift it is trying to prevent. According to the ICWA (Indian Council of World Affairs), BRICS nations have already reduced their trade dependence on the US and EU by over 25% between 2019 and 2024. Similarly, the New Development Bank (NDB) — the BRICS-led multilateral financial institution — has increased disbursements by 40% in the last fiscal year, prioritizing infrastructure projects outside the Western financial ecosystem.
In the view of Russian strategists, every round of Western tariffs or sanctions only strengthens internal cohesion within BRICS. Moscow’s approach is now framed around developing alternatives to Western governance — whether in finance, logistics, or strategic technology.
Growing Risks and Potential Flashpoints
- Trade disputes may spill into military alliances, raising geopolitical instability.
- The success of BRICS hinges on internal coordination, which remains uneven.
Despite the visible momentum, experts caution that the cohesion of BRICS remains a work in progress. Diverging interests between China and India, for instance, could undermine coordinated responses to US economic pressure on BRICS.
Additionally, the possibility of retaliatory sanctions or trade blockades by the West could further squeeze smaller BRICS economies like Ethiopia or Iran, forcing a dependence on Chinese or Russian financial systems. This imbalance may shift BRICS into a more bipolar alignment rather than a truly multipolar one.
Nevertheless, in a world marked by shifting alliances, resource competition, and disrupted global norms, BRICS offers an evolving platform for counterbalancing the concentrated power of the US and its allies. The ongoing trade war, especially under Trump’s aggressive tariff regime, may ultimately serve to galvanize this alternative bloc into a more institutionalized global force.
Final Analysis
Russia’s response to the new tariff regime by the United States underscores a deeper contest over who gets to shape the future of international order. What was once a battle over weapons and ideology has become a struggle over oil, currencies, and trade lanes.
The strategy of exerting US economic pressure on BRICS may appear to reassert short-term leverage, but its long-term consequence may be a diminished role for Washington in global decision-making. As more nations pivot away from dollar-based systems and Western regulatory frameworks, the very architecture of global capitalism could be transformed.
Russia’s defiance, backed by the BRICS coalition and other Global South allies, signals that the era of unquestioned US economic dominance may be ending. The world is watching not just who imposes tariffs, but who withstands them.
