NATO’s pathetic threats to the BRIC Giants

Head of the Military Alliance urged the three Brics nations to press Russian President Vladimir Putin for the end of the war in Ukraine – or risk even heavier commercial tariffs from the US.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte asked Brazil, China and India to press Russia by the end of the war in Ukraine, threatening the three nations that make up the BRICS group with the imposition of sanctions by the United States.

US President Donald Trump recently said he would impose “very severe rates” against Russia if no agreement was reached to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days. He also threatened to impose a secondary rate of 100% on countries that buy Russian exports – something that could directly reach BRICS countries.

In a US senators meeting, Rutte said she made sure these countries, especially China, would be “very useful” to press Russia.

“My encouragement to these three countries, in particular, is that if you live in Beijing, or Delhi, or you are the president of Brazil, you may want to take a look at it, because it could reach you very hard,” Rutte told journalists on Tuesday (15/07).

“So please call [o presidente russo] Vladimir Putin and tell him that he needs to take peace negotiations seriously, because otherwise this will impact Brazil, India and China massively, ”added Rutte.

Why Brazil, India and China?

The three nations respond for the vast majority of Moscow’s energy trade. In addition, it is the central countries of BRICS, the group of developing nations, together with South Africa.

US President Donald Trump had also promised higher rates for Brics countries to align with the bloc’s plans to challenge US hegemony.

Even before Trump’s announcement of secondary tariffs earlier this week, American parliamentarians had been working on a bipartisan bill to impose even harder sanctions. The legislation seeks a 500% rate on products imported from countries that continue to buy oil, gas, uranium and other Russian exports.

BRICS avoided condemning Moscow for the war

In the final statement of the BRICS summit, held earlier in Rio de Janeiro, the group’s member countries again requested a renovation of the United Nations Security Council and repudiated attacks that hit Russia railways in June this year, without, however, mentioning Ukraine, which would be behind the aggression. It was the first time the block cited a military action against Moscow in a statement.

The document was the first signed by the new formation of the bloc, which last year accepted the adhesion of five new countries. The group is currently made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

The BRICS expansion increased the group’s diplomatic weight, which seeks to represent the developing countries of the global southern and reinforce requests for reforms in global institutions.

Rutte and Trump announced an agreement for the sale of US arms to NATO countries in support of Ukraine | Nathan Howard/Reuters

In a speech during the summit, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva drew a parallel with developing countries that resisted aligning himself with any of the world order poles during the Cold War.

“BRICS is the heir to the movement of not aligned,” said Lula. “With multilateralism under attack, our autonomy is again in check,” he said.

BRICS countries represent more than half of the world’s population and 40% of their economic production, Lula noted in comments to business leaders, warning against protectionism.

Europe plans “massive” arms to Kiev

Rutte and Trump announced on Monday an agreement for the sale of US arms to NATO countries. The Military Alliance representative stated that members will pass on part of these weapons to Ukraine, marking the resumption of help from the United States to Kiev.

Among the promised deliveries are Patriot Antimissile Systems, the most advanced defense device that the West has ever sent to Ukraine. Each unit costs about 3 million euros (R $ 19.5 million) – to be paid by the European Union (EU), according to the US president.

On Tuesday, Rutte said Europe would find the money to ensure that Ukraine was in the best possible position in peace negotiations. He stated that, under the deal with Trump, the US would now “massively provide” weapons to Ukraine, “not just air defense, also missiles and ammunition paid by Europeans.”

Asked if long -range missiles for Ukraine were under discussion, Rutte said help “is both defensive and offensive.” “Therefore, there are all types of weapons, but we have not argued in detail yesterday with the president. This is now being worked by the Pentagon and the Supreme Commander of the Allies in Europe, along with the Ukrainians.”

Originally published by DW on 16/07/2025