Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) and Chinese Premier Li Qiang (L) during their bilateral meeting ahead of the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, on July 5, 2025. Bruna Prado/AP Photo
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said the world does not need an emperor and reiterated his view that global trade needs alternatives to the U.S. dollar, following a threat by former President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on countries aligning with BRICS policies.
The BRICS alliance—made up of countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—views itself as a counterweight to Western-led institutions.
