Washington: US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning that any nation aligning with the anti-American policies of the BRICS economic bloc will face an additional 10 percent tariff. Trump made this announcement on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that there would be no exceptions to this policy.

According to TRTworld.com, Trump's statements came on the eve of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, where leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa criticized his import tariffs and the recent Israeli-US strikes on Iran. This group, representing significant global economic and demographic influence, expressed serious concerns over Trump's tariff measures, claiming they could harm the global economy.

BRICS leaders also showed symbolic support for Iran by condemning military strikes carried out by Israel and the United States. Trump's earlier threats of punitive duties were softened by a temporary reprieve after market turmoil, but he continues to push for "deals" with trading partners by August 1.

Despite the tensions, the BRICS summit did not directly criticize the United States or Trump by name, possibly to avoid further diplomatic conflicts. As the group has expanded to include nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia, it has faced challenges reaching consensus on various global issues, including the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The summit's political impact was muted by the absence of key leaders such as China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin. Putin, addressing the summit via video link, emphasized BRICS' growing role in global governance. The summit also called for regulations on artificial intelligence, highlighting the need for equitable access to the technology across nations.