Rio de Janeiro, Planet Earth—In a stunning feat of international choreography, the BRICS bloc managed to both denounce global injustice and practice tactical blindness at its annual summit, held this year under the sultry Brazilian sun. The group of ten, including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and their new recruits such as Iran and Egypt, made headlines not for what they said, but for what they cleverly didn’t.
On the agenda? A righteous tongue-lashing aimed squarely at the United States and Israel for their recent attacks on Iran. BRICS leaders condemned the bombings as a “blatant breach of international law,” which sounds serious until you realize this same group had nothing to say about Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, because, well, Russia is part of the club. It’s like yelling at your neighbor for bad parking while pretending your own garage isn’t on fire.
Instead, they twisted the narrative to blame Ukraine for “provoking” poor Russia by, you know, daring to respond to an invasion. A masterclass in diplomatic gaslighting.
Tariffs & Tantrums:
Meanwhile, former U.S. President and full-time economic flamethrower Donald Trump received an indirect slap on the wrist for his favored tariffs. The BRICS group didn’t name him specifically, but their statement about “unilateral trade barriers” loudly echoed Trump’s words more than a rally crowd in red hats. Not one to let sub-tweeting go unnoticed, Trump responded on Truth Social, threatening a 10% tariff on any country caught cozying up to “anti-American” BRICS policies. Subtlety is dead; long live the tweet.
BRICS Expansion: Now With More Countries!
This year’s summit looked more like a roll call at a United Nations cosplay event. New members included Iran, Indonesia, and Ethiopia, with even more countries lined up, much like it’s Black Friday at a discount diplomacy store. Argentina pulled out at the last minute, citing its new president’s deep bromance with you guessed it Donald Trump.
Missing in action were some big names: Xi Jinping decided to stay away from the party, and Putin, wanted by the ICC, wisely chose not to test Brazil’s extradition laws. Iran’s new president also skipped, sending his foreign minister instead, presumably because dodging drones leaves little time for cocktail diplomacy.
Middle East Mayhem & Selective Solidarity:
The bloc had lots to say about the Middle East. BRICS condemned the U.S. and Israel for launching strikes on Iranian targets, killing hundreds and escalating tensions. Tehran’s retaliation with drones and missiles? Understandable.
As for Gaza, BRICS went all-in. They blasted Israel’s blockade, mourned Palestinian deaths, and endorsed a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital, essentially a checklist of everything that makes Tel Aviv see red. Meanwhile, the UN’s aid agency UNRWA got a glowing endorsement, despite being banned by Israel, because what’s international diplomacy without a bit of defiance?
Sanctions? More Like Suggestions.
Economic sanctions? BRICS thinks they’re a Western tantrum dressed as policy. They especially hate “unilateral coercive measures,” which is code for “the U.S. is mean to us.” Iran and Russia veterans of the sanctioned-and-sullen club were naturally the loudest voices on this front.
Terrorism Takes & Convenient Omissions:
They also got in a quick condemnation of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, which killed 26 people. But in the spirit of their new tradition of selective finger-pointing, they forgot to name Pakistan, even though India insists it’s behind the attack. Awkward silence is the latest global strategy.
And About That Whole Ukraine Thing…
Ukraine’s war? That awkward elephant in the summit room got barely a mention just a vague nod toward “sustainable peace.” But when Ukraine bombed Russian territory, suddenly BRICS found its voice again, denouncing the attacks as if diplomacy itself had been wounded.
BRICS 2025 was less about unity and more about controlled outrage. The bloc continues to position itself as the voice of the Global South, just don’t ask it to criticize one of its own. Hypocrisy? Maybe. Strategy? Definitely. Either way, the message is clear: in today’s world order, morality is optional, but loyalty is everything.
