For the last one year, the American unilateralism has been a major threat to the multilateral global order.
1. BRICS nations have been facing huge impact of American unilateralism- unilateral tariff policies of Trump, sanctions against Russia, abrogation of Iran nuclear deal, and aggression against Iran.
India and China are facing the impending secondary sanctions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, recently passed by the US Congress and signed by the US President Donald Trump on 18 September 2026.
This act grants authority to the US President to levy tariffs of up to 100% on countries that continue to import Russian oil and natural gas. The President has the authority to waive sanctions through negotiations and agreement with specific countries. China and India are the largest importers of Russian oil. India sources 40 percent of her oil imports from Russia now.
2. European and NATO nations are equally impacted by unilateralism of the US President- threat to take over Denmark’s Greenland, claim Canada as the 51st state of America, reduced commitment in European security under the NATO framework, unilateral tariff against Canada and many other countries.
In addition, Trump’s unilateralism also imp[acts global institutions: withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, sanctions against judges of International Criminal Court (ICC) withholding assent to mediators in Dispute settlement mechanism (DSM) of WTO to name a few.
Can BRICS and European nations Come together to counter American unilateralism?
NO. Though both sides are affected by American policies and support multilateralism, but they cannot come closer due to the following fundamental reasons.
- European nations have deep held notion that Russia is a potential threat to European security. Hence, they will keep on supporting Ukraine against Russia in the ongoing war. This perception will keep them apart.
- China’s authoritarian regime, expansionism, economic policies and weaponizing of trade and critical minerals make China suspicious player in European minds. They have declared China as systemic threat to global order.
- European nations still harbor the hope of reconciliation with the US, in spite of US unilateralism and unpredictability.
Though India can be a balancing force, but it has limited leverage on both sides (EU and Russia and China) to strike this imbalance.
Thus, these fundamental differences between BRICS and Europe, intensified by the ongoing Ukraine war will give Trump a field day to pursue his unilateralism with impunity, at least in the short run. There is no other coalition/ combination of global forces which can subdue American unilateralism.
Image Courtesy: China daily
Leave a Reply