NEW DELHI: Deep divisions within the BRICS bloc surfaced on Friday after foreign ministers from member nations failed to agree on a joint communique following a two-day summit in New Delhi, forcing host India to issue only a chair’s statement that highlighted differences over the escalating Middle East conflict.
The diplomatic deadlock reportedly centered on Iran’s push for a stronger condemnation of the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign, a move opposed by at least one member state, widely understood to be the United Arab Emirates.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged the disagreement, saying one BRICS member blocked portions of the proposed statement concerning regional conflict.
“We have no difficulty with that certain country,” Araghchi told reporters. “They have not been our target in the current war. We only struck American military bases and installations located on their soil.”
His remarks pointed to the growing strain between Tehran and Abu Dhabi as regional tensions intensify.
Despite the divisions, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said BRICS members reaffirmed the principle that international security is indivisible and called for resolving conflicts through diplomacy, dialogue, and political consultation rather than military escalation.
“The ministers stressed the need for stronger international efforts on peace and security and encouraged conflict prevention by addressing root causes,” the chair’s statement said.
Gaza Position Reaffirmed
On the Palestinian issue, the BRICS chair’s statement reaffirmed that the Gaza Strip remains an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while emphasizing the importance of reunifying Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
The bloc also reiterated support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.
However, the statement acknowledged that at least one member expressed reservations regarding parts of the Gaza-related language, underscoring continuing internal diplomatic sensitivities.
Global South Agenda
As BRICS chair for 2026, India emphasized the bloc’s broader strategic mission of strengthening cooperation among developing nations amid mounting geopolitical and economic pressures.
The statement cited shared concerns including global conflict, economic slowdown, technological disruption, protectionism, and migration challenges.
BRICS currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, representing a significant political and economic force across the Global South.
The unresolved differences are expected to resurface when BRICS leaders convene later this year, where diplomats will seek to bridge widening internal geopolitical fault lines.
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