Threatening severe consequences if they attempt to replace the US dollar with an alternative currency in international trade. Trump's ultimatum includes imposing a 100% tariff on products from BRICS countries and banning them from accessing the US market ¹.
Trump's stance aligns with his campaign promise to protect the US dollar's status as the global reserve currency. His team is already exploring potential punitive measures for countries that pursue de-dollarization ¹.
The BRICS bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has been discussing alternatives to the dollar since 2023. They've considered using the Chinese yuan and blockchain-based stablecoins for trade, which could bypass US sanctions ¹.
Trump's strong opposition has sparked concerns of heightened economic tensions between the US and BRICS. Some argue that Trump's ire should be directed at cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which could potentially threaten the dollar's dominance ².
Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to Trump's threats, stating that Russia is not abandoning the dollar, but rather, the US is abandoning Russia. Putin criticized the US for weakening its own currency and accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the dollar.