BRICS Advances Core Agenda Despite Divisions Over Middle East Conflict at Delhi Meeting

Jukwaa

📻 Breaking It Down

The expanded BRICS bloc, now comprising 11 member states and 10 partner countries, struggled to bridge differences stemming from the Gulf conflict, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates aligned with the United States and Israel, while Iran stood firmly opposed.

Despite days of intensive preparations, including a Sherpas’ meeting from May 11–13, negotiators failed to secure consensus on several contentious geopolitical issues.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar acknowledged the divisions, noting that “there were differing views among some members regarding the situation in West Asia/the Middle East.”

📌 What You Need to Know

The outcome document, spanning 63 paragraphs, stopped short of becoming a full joint statement after disagreements emerged over references to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and maritime navigation rights in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Reports indicated Iran objected to two specific paragraphs, although its reservations were not formally detailed.

India’s BRICS Sherpa and Foreign Ministry Secretary Sudhakar Dalela defended the final document, saying it reflected the “common position of members on almost all subjects.”

While tensions over the Middle East dominated headlines, BRICS members still managed to advance several core priorities ahead of the next summit expected in Delhi in September.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bloc’s strategic partnership under its three pillars — political and security cooperation, economic and financial collaboration, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

They also reiterated support for the “BRICS spirit” of mutual respect, equality, solidarity, inclusiveness and consensus.

A key area of agreement was the growing role of the Global South and emerging economies in shaping a multipolar world order.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya

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