South Africa has defended its weeklong naval exercises with Russia, Iran, China and other BRICS Plus members as essential, describing the “Will for Peace 2026” drills off Cape Town as a necessary response to increasing maritime tensions. The exercises began on Saturday, shortly after the United States seized a Venezuela-linked Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic, citing sanctions violations. South African officials said the drills were planned well before the recent rise in global tensions and aimed to strengthen cooperation among BRICS nations.

Captain Nndwakhulu Thomas Thamaha, South Africa’s joint task force commander, said the exercises represented a collective commitment to maritime security and cooperation. The drills involve warships from China, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, with Indonesia, Ethiopia and Brazil participating as observers. Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa urged calm, emphasizing that the United States’ disputes with other countries should not define South Africa’s foreign policy.

The event follows previous BRICS naval collaborations and comes amid U.S. criticism of South Africa’s ties with Russia and its legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Washington has accused BRICS of anti-American policies and warned of potential new tariffs on member states.

Pakistan has formally requested China’s support to join the BRICS alliance’s New Development Bank (NDB), signaling its intent to deepen financial and strategic cooperation with Beijing. The request was made during a meeting in Washington between Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and China’s Vice Finance Minister Liao Min. Islamabad expressed gratitude for the growing Chinese investments in agriculture, industry, and mineral sectors, highlighting China’s role in Pakistan’s economic stability. According to a government statement, Aurangzeb emphasized Pakistan’s desire to become a member of the NDB, which was established by BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging economies. Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee approved the purchase of $582 million worth of NDB capital shares, marking a concrete step toward its membership bid.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will participate virtually in the upcoming BRICS summit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. The videoconference is expected to take place in the coming days. Reports indicate that Brazil is organizing a special online BRICS meeting on September 8. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva plans to discuss with other member nations coordinated responses to challenges facing the multipolar world order, including U.S. tariffs and sanctions, highlighting the bloc’s collective diplomatic and economic strategy.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized the United States for imposing politically motivated economic pressure on countries choosing independent paths. She described Trump’s tariff policy as a direct interference in national sovereignty, especially targeting Russia’s partners in the Global South. Zakharova emphasized that sanctions have become a key feature of the current global order and said Washington is pursuing a neo-colonial agenda. Russia remains committed to deepening cooperation with like-minded countries, particularly within the expanding BRICS bloc.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again threatened to impose a 10% import tariff on goods from BRICS nations. Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump argued that BRICS is unlikely to sustain itself as a meaningful alliance. He warned that any anti-American alignment will face consequences, reaffirming his commitment to defending the dollar’s global dominance. Trump also criticized the idea of a central bank digital currency. As G7 and G20 groups weaken due to internal rifts and U.S. isolationist policies, BRICS is positioning itself as an alternative platform for multilateral diplomacy.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff threats, stating that the world no longer wants to be ruled by emperors. At the BRICS summit, Lula highlighted the growing resistance against U.S. global dominance and stressed the need to reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar. He mentioned that BRICS countries are exploring alternative economic frameworks. Other BRICS leaders echoed Lula’s sentiments and reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful cooperation.

President Trump’s abrupt release of a “tariff letter” has triggered significant volatility in global financial markets. The announcement of new import tariffs—set to take effect from August 1 on 14 countries, including Bangladesh—has led to sharp declines in indices like the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500. Shares of companies such as Toyota, Nissan, Honda, LG, and SK Telecom fell by several percentage points. The tariff policy has also affected U.S. bond markets and led to a strengthening dollar, weakening other major currencies. Trump warned that BRICS-aligned nations may face an additional 10% tariff. Economists have cautioned that the policy could destabilize not just trade but the global economic equilibrium.

At the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, member states condemned Israel’s unprovoked military attacks on Iran, calling them violations of international law. In a joint statement, the alliance expressed serious concern over strikes on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities. Analysts see this unified stance as a major diplomatic victory for Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that failure to hold Israel accountable could have regional consequences. He also accused the U.S. and Israel of breaching the NPT and UN Resolution 2231.

At its recent summit, the BRICS alliance declared Gaza an inseparable part of Palestine and reaffirmed support for Palestinian self-determination and full UN membership. The bloc expressed deep concern over Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and condemned the use of starvation as a weapon. BRICS urged Israel to withdraw forces from all occupied Palestinian territories and release all detainees and hostages. The group also called for sincere negotiations to achieve an immediate, lasting, and unconditional ceasefire in the region.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has strongly condemned what he called Israel’s "genocidal acts" in Gaza, urging the international community not to remain indifferent.

Speaking at the BRICS summit, Lula decried the indiscriminate killing of civilians and the use of hunger as a weapon of war. He emphasized the need for a global response, stressing that ignoring such atrocities is unacceptable.

Lula has previously described Israeli actions in Gaza as crimes akin to genocide. Over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and is currently investigating genocide-related charges.

The BRICS summit has kicked off in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, notably without the presence of the presidents of China and Russia. Although the bloc seeks to present itself as a counterweight to Western dominance, the agenda is expected to focus heavily on U.S. tariffs and economic pressures. With the bloc now expanded to 10 members, internal disagreements—particularly over the Gaza and Iran issues—have raised questions about its unity and future effectiveness.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned BRICS nations against introducing an alternative to the dollar, threatening a 150% tariff and a complete halt to trade with them. Speaking at a Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, he accused BRICS of attempting to undermine the dollar and favoring the Chinese yuan. Trump also mocked Canada, calling it America’s “51st state”, and hinted at incorporating its national anthem. Additionally, he pledged to enhance the U.S. education system to match Nordic countries.

US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to India, Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa over their BRICS alliance. He threatened to impose a 150% tariff if BRICS nations attempt to introduce a new currency to rival the US dollar. Accusing them of trying to "destroy the dollar," Trump emphasized that any country seeking to move away from the US currency must sever ties with America. No official response has been received from BRICS nations yet.