Donald Trump’s 2025 return to the White House is unlikely to derail the economic progress of the BRICS economic bloc, according to Brazilian analyst Jose Juan Sanches. Sanches, president of the Brazilian CMA Group, told Tass publication that BRICS nations are expected to sustain their cooperative efforts in trade and economic development, despite potential U.S. opposition. He noted:
We can approach this issue from two perspectives: economics and politics. From an economic standpoint, the development of which depends solely on the global market situation … there will be no issues.
He stressed that BRICS growth relies heavily on market forces rather than external political influence. However, Sanches acknowledged that a Trump administration might attempt to limit BRICS’s influence by preventing new nations from joining the “BRICS Plus” expansion framework.
The BRICS group is growing, with Egypt, Iran, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia joining Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as full members in early 2024. Russia currently chairs the coalition, hosting over 200 events to boost collaboration and address pressing issues.
The most recent summit, held in Kazan in October, gathered representatives from 36 countries, concluding with the adoption of the Kazan Declaration. This document outlines BRICS’ vision for economic growth, global cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution, especially concerning the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted Trump’s recent statements on Ukraine, saying, “It seems to me that he said it sincerely,” in reference to Trump’s pledge to bring an end to the conflict.
Putin recently clarified that Russia is not abandoning the U.S. dollar but criticized U.S. financial authorities for restricting Russia’s access to it. While discussions of a shared BRICS currency continue, Putin emphasized that creating one requires significant economic alignment, calling current plans “premature” due to differing economic structures.