Russia says BRICS not directed 'against' third countries, after Trump tariff threat

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The day after US President Donald Trump threatened China, India, and others with higher import tariffs, The Kremlin said on Monday that the BRICS association of fast-growing economies was not aimed against third countries.

President Trump had hit back at BRICS' criticism of his trade policies, and threatened the group's members with higher import tariffs.

Russia cleared its stance, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying, "This interaction within BRICS has never been and will never be directed against third countries."

BRICS leaders had on Sunday described Trump's tariff war as "indiscriminate" and damaging.

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The 11-nation grouping -- which also includes US allies Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia -- is concluding a two-day summit in Rio de Janeiro.

On Sunday, BRICS leaders described Trump's stop-start tariff wars as "indiscriminate," damaging, and illegal, drawing a late-night rebuke from the pugilistic US president.

"Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy," Trump wrote on social media.

BRICS members account for about half the world's population and 40 percent of global economic output.

Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, BRICS has come to be seen as a Chinese-driven effort to curb US global influence.

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But it is a quickly expanding and often divergent grouping -- bringing together arch US foes like Iran and Russia, with some of Washington's closest allies in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Some US allies inside the bloc had tried to blunt criticism of Trump by not mentioning him or the United States by name in their summit statement.
(With AFP inputs)