BRICS fails to issue joint statement over Iran's war
Senior diplomats from the BRICS countries failed to issue a joint statement on Friday after a two-day meeting in Delhi, prompting host India to make do with a statement by the chairman of the meeting, revealing the extent of the differences.
India on Friday issued a statement for the BRICS presidency instead of a joint statement at the conclusion of the annual meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi, noting that some members have divergent views on the situation in the Middle East.
The war in Ukraine and the associated energy crisis dominated the deliberations of the BRICS countries, which kicked off on Thursday in the capital New Delhi amid economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions.
India, which holds the bloc's rotating presidency, warned of major volatility in the international system that directly affects food, energy security and global supply chains, with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar saying that "the world is going through a watershed moment of uncertainty."
During his opening remarks, he added that BRICS can help developing countries to address the health and financial challenges they face more effectively, as well as the rise in energy and food prices, noting that conflicts and challenges in the fields of trade and climate have become the features of the global scene.
Araqchi: Iran is a victim
In his speech, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called on BRICS member states to denounce what he described as "violations of international law by the United States and Israel," saying his country is "a victim of illegal expansion and provoking wars."
The bloc called on the BRICS to resist "Western hegemony and impunity that the United States believes it deserves," stressing the need for the countries of the world to play their role in condemning violations that affect the sovereignty of states and international laws.
Iran and the UAE at the meeting
Iran's Mehr news agency reported that during the meeting, Araqchi accused the UAE of directly participating in military operations against his country.
In response to comments made by the UAE representative, Araqchi was quoted as saying: "I did not mention the UAE in my statement out of concern for unity. But the truth is that the UAE has been directly involved in the aggression against my country. When the attacks started, there was not even any condemnation."
The Wall Street Journal said mid-last week, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the UAE had launched military strikes against Iran.
The strikes, which the UAE has not acknowledged, included an attack on an oil refinery on Iran's Lavan island in the Gulf, the newspaper said, adding that the attack took place in early April.
What is BRICS?
The BRICS was established in 2006 at the initiative of Brazil, Russia, India and China, before South Africa joined it in 2011, and then in early January 2024, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined the group, and Indonesia became a member.
This year, India is chairing the Group under the theme "Building Resilience, Innovation, Collaboration and Sustainability" with a focus on humanity first and supporting the causes of the Global South.
The BRICS is focused on reducing dependence on the dollar for intra-regional trade, expanding the use of local currencies and developing alternative payment systems such as China's CIPS and financing infrastructure projects through the New Development Bank.
India is gearing up to host the 18th BRICS summit in September 2026, amid expectations of further expansion of membership and partnerships.