India Assumes BRICS Leadership Amid Trump’s Pressure, Brazil Hands Over Symbolic Hammer

Source: नवभारत टाइम्स | Original Published At: 2025-12-18 06:54:56 UTC

Key Points

• Brazil formally transferred BRICS presidency to India with a symbolic hammer made from Amazon rainforest wood during December 2025 handover ceremony
• India's 2026 BRICS leadership will prioritize flexibility, innovation, and cooperation focusing on climate change, AI governance, and development finance
• Brazil's 2025 presidency emphasized sustainable development, including AI governance frameworks and climate finance mechanisms
• Trump administration's unilateral policies and tariff threats against BRICS countries created geopolitical context for leadership transition
• BRICS Sherpa meetings in Brasilia reviewed progress toward 2025 goals, emphasizing practical impacts over diplomatic declarations