Trump Targets BRICS Over New Currency Plans

In a new verbal escalation, Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States, has shaken global markets. Indeed, he has threatened to impose 100 % tariffs on the nations of the BRICS alliance. This statement comes in a tense economic context, where the dollar, the cornerstone of international trade, is increasingly challenged by emerging powers. Such a challenge to the monetary status quo could reshape the global geopolitical balance, but also lead to significant economic turbulence.

Trump defends the supremacy of the dollar

Trump used his Truth Social network to issue a new threat. He states: “we demand that these countries commit to not creating a new BRICS currency nor support another currency to replace the powerful US dollar.” According to him, any attempt in this direction would lead to immediate sanctions, including massive tariffs and exclusion from the US market. This position is part of an already well-known economic strategy of “America First,” which aims to protect the hegemony of the United States on the global trade stage.

The immediate implications of this statement are clear. If implemented, these trade taxes could significantly increase import costs in the United States, leading to rising inflation and tensions in global supply chains. However, observers point out that the impact could also backfire on the United States, complicating diplomatic and trade relations with several of its strategic partners.

The BRICS project and its challenges

The BRICS have been trying for years to reduce their dependence on the dollar, seen as a tool of political and economic domination by the United States. Thus, at the recent Kazan summit, Vladimir Putin reiterated this ambition, although he tempered hopes for a common currency. He then stated that “such an initiative is not yet ripe.” The project remains, for now, a strategic reflection rather than an operational reality.

Despite their ambitions, the BRICS face many internal challenges. Economic heterogeneity and political disagreements among members complicate the necessary coordination for such a project. However, this quest illustrates a growing desire to promote a multipolar world, where rules would no longer be dictated solely by the great Western powers. If the United States chooses to economically isolate these countries, they could accelerate this process, with unpredictable effects for the global economy.

Donald Trump’s threat constitutes a major turning point in the relationship between the United States and the BRICS. While the ambitions of the latter remain embryonic for the moment, a trade escalation could destabilize the global economy and reshape the balance of economic power. The question remains: will this power struggle ultimately benefit the United States or hasten a transition to a new global economic order?