Trump’s signature for “BRICS”; What is the president-elect of the United States afraid of?
Mehr News Agency, International Group, Hassan Shokohi Nasab: Trump while more than a month There is still time until he enters the White House, his attacks has started to BRICS. He recently published a message on social networks and threatened the members of this agreement that if the dollar is removed and an alternative currency is created in their transactions, they will face 100% tariffs!
This threat was immediately met with the reaction of the heads of member states, and “Dmitry Peskov”, the Kremlin spokesman, said that the US resort to force and sanctions to force countries to use the dollar. , has the opposite result, the dollar has lost its attractiveness in several countries and the process of its analysis has started and is accelerating.
The determinants of BRICS power
The BRICS union, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded to 6 new members (Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Argentina and Ethiopia) now represent about 45% of the world’s population and nearly a third of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). This block also covers 36% of the land area, which shows its wide geographical and demographic influence. Meanwhile, the share of “Group of 7” (G7) countries in population and land is about 9.7 and 16.1 percent, respectively.
Economically, BRICS, with a GDP of nearly $30.8 trillion in 2023 (with new members), is increasingly seen as a counterweight to Western countries have been raised. In addition, this block has about 44.4% of the world’s oil reserves and a significant share of the world’s wheat production (48.7%). These effects show the economic power and natural resources of BRICS, which can change the existing world order.
During the 16th BRICS Summit, which was held in Kazan, Russia from October 22 to 24 (November 1 to 3) Standing against America and its European allies was evident. In this meeting, representatives of more than 30 countries, including the President of Iran, Masoud Mezikian, and the presidents of some other countries, such as China and South Africa, and the Prime Minister of India, were present in this meeting. This was the first time that the main members and the leaders of the new BRICS countries were present at the summit at the same time.
During this summit, several strategies were proposed to reduce dependence on the US dollar. One of the main axes was the development of the joint payment system “Brix Bridge”, which was specifically designed to reduce the role of the dollar in business transactions. This system is going to use blockchain technology and central bank digital currencies (CBDC). For example, it was suggested that the digital yuan be used as one of the key currencies for payments.
Furthermore, plans were presented to strengthen economic cooperation through international mobile payment systems and the creation of a common e-commerce platform. The aim of these measures is to increase the economic independence of the BRICS member countries and reduce the dominance of the dollar over the global financial system. The meeting also pointed to the creation of institutions similar to FITF, which helps regulate financial transparency and international transactions.
BRICS has been recognized as an important economic and political force in the world during the last two decades. This bloc has acted not only in the direction of the economic development of the member countries but also as a possible challenge to the American hegemony. In relation to why Trump and his team make this coalition the target of their attacks, several points should be noted;
1. BRICS as a challenge to the US-led international order
Trump and his team see BRICS as a direct threat to American hegemony in the global economic and political arenas. This bloc seeks to reduce the dependence of member countries on the US dollar, strengthen local currencies and create a multipolar order. Trump, who has adopted the “America First” policy, strongly reacts to any attempt to limit the influence of the dollar and US-dominated institutions (such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank).
2. Trump’s focus on China as the main enemy
One of the key members of BRICS is China, which Trump identifies as America’s biggest economic and geopolitical competitor. Trump’s tough trade policies against China during his first administration, such as the tariff war and technology restrictions, reflected his concern about China’s growing power. Because China plays a central role in BRICS, this organization has also indirectly become the target of Trump’s attacks in his second administration.
3. Russia and geopolitical competition
Russia, as another BRICS member, is at the center of Trump’s policies. Although Trump was sometimes criticized during his first administration for his personal relationship with Vladimir Putin, his team saw Russia as a threat to American interests in Europe and the Middle East. Since Russia plays an active role in BRICS and has challenged the West in the Ukraine war for nearly three years, this organization is also part of the geopolitical competition between the United States and its Western allies with Russia.
4. BRICS and the reduction of influence of the dollar
BRICS seeks to create alternative financial systems such as the “New Development Bank” and “BRICS Bridge”, which aims to reduce the dependence of member countries on the US-dominated financial system. Trump and his team strongly oppose any action to weaken the dollar because the dollar is a key tool for maintaining American economic and political influence.
5. Trump’s nationalist ideology
Trump and his advisers in his first administration, especially people like “Mike Pompeo” and “John Bolton” strongly supported the nationalist and anti-globalization ideology. From their point of view, BRICS was a representative of globalization and international cooperation that did not prioritize America’s interests; Such an approach will most likely prevail in Trump’s second administration as well, if there are signs of this approach before he enters the White House.
Conclusion
Trump and his team’s repeated attacks on BRICS are caused by their deep concerns about the decline of America’s economic and political influence in the world. BRICS, as an independent and multipolar alliance, is considered a threat to the world order under the leadership of the United States.
Trump’s American foreign policy is always geared towards countering these threats, especially focusing on China and Russia, which are key members of this bloc. Ultimately, these attacks reflect a broader conflict between “America First” policies and global efforts to create a multipolar order.
From the point of view of the observers, Trump’s threat of 100% US tariff on BRICS members is due to the US fear of further weakening the dollar and replacing the group’s currency, and it indicates the end of the economy. The free market and all the claims of liberalism and neoliberalism in the economic field are based on American money; A fact that Trump has understood well and will undoubtedly have a more serious confrontation with BRICS after re-entering the White House on January 20th (1st of Bahman), hoping to restore the collapsed American hegemony by threatening and destroying inconsistent alliances. /p>
