The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting ended on a conflicting note as the alliance failed to issue a joint statement after the two-day event in New Delhi, amid internal divisions over the Iran war.
The meeting consisted of representatives from the core BRICS members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newer members Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE.
India reported on Friday that “there were differing views among some members” regarding the conflict in West Asia.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday had urged fellow BRICS members to condemn the aggressions by the United States and Israel, and accused the two nations of violating international law. He also criticised the UAE, claiming it was directly involved in the attacks against Iran. Since the onset of the war, Iran had reportedly struck the UAE more than any other country, including Israel.
Araghchi said, “We have no difficulty with that certain country, they have not been our target in the current war. We only hit American military bases and American military installations, which are unfortunately on their soil.”
UAE’s representative, Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar hit back at Araghchi, accusing him of trying to justify Tehran’s attacks against Abu Dhabi and other Gulf nations. Al Marar said Iran had launched around 3,000 attacks on the UAE using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
UN representation, Gaza, and Sudan on the agenda
India released a statement, highlighting other key issues discussed during the summit. This included calls for reforms to global institutions like the United Nations and the Security Council, demanding greater representation for countries in the Global South.
The meeting also discussed Israel’s continued onslaught on Gaza, agreeing that the strip was an “inseparable part” of any future independent Palestinian state. The alliance called for the unification of the Gaza strip with the occupied West Bank under the governance of the Palestinian authority. However, the statement also noted that an unnamed member country had expressed apprehensions about certain parts of the section on Gaza.
The agenda included the situation in Sudan, currently described by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The representatives called for an immediate ceasefire, urging for a peaceful solution through negotiations to bring an end to the civil war.
BRICS leaders also encouraged a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria, which is currently recovering from the civil war that ended in December 2024 after overthrowing former President Bashar al-Assad.
