A two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS nations concluded in New Delhi on Friday without a joint statement because of “differing views among some members” on the situation in the Middle East, host India said. The differences highlighted the challenge of maintaining unity within the bloc as it seeks to expand its influence.
Divergent Positions on Middle East
The Indian statement said members expressed “their respective national positions and shared a range of perspectives” on issues including sovereignty, maritime security and the protection of civilian infrastructure and civilian lives in the Middle East. It also included a footnote saying that “a member had reservations” about parts of sections dealing with Gaza and security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
Bloc Composition and Internal Strains
BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. Divisions among members have become more visible during the Iran war, particularly between Iran and the UAE. On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged BRICS nations to condemn the U.S. and Israel over what he described as their “unlawful aggression.” He also called on member states to resist what he said was the politicization of international institutions.
The failure to produce a joint statement underscores the growing challenges for BRICS as it attempts to present a unified front on global issues. The bloc, which has expanded its membership in recent years, now faces the task of reconciling the often conflicting foreign policy priorities of its diverse members.
