BRICS Talks End Without Joint Statement Amid Deepening Divisions Over Iran War

Foreign Ministers from BRICS Countries Fail to Issue Joint Statement Amid Internal Divisions

India hosted a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS alliance, which brings together major developing economies, in New Delhi on Friday. The gathering aimed to discuss pressing global issues, but ultimately failed to produce a joint statement due to internal divisions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had urged BRICS member states to condemn what he described as “violations of international law by the United States and Israel” during the meeting. However, some members expressed differing views on the conflict in the Middle East.

Araghchi stated that a BRICS member had blocked parts of India’s statement, which highlighted areas of consensus among the group, including calls for reforms to global governance institutions and greater representation of Global South countries within international institutions.

The foreign ministers also discussed Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, agreeing that Gaza was an “inseparable part” of any future independent Palestinian state. They called on all parties to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon and condemned the use of economic sanctions as a form of coercion.

Other topics discussed included Sudan, which remains embroiled in a humanitarian crisis, and Syria, where a peaceful transition is being sought. The ministers also stressed the importance of eliminating “foreign terrorist fighters” in Syria, citing them as a security threat to both the country and the wider region.

The meeting resulted in no joint statement due to internal divisions over the Iran war, which has intensified tensions between Iran and its Gulf neighbors, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Source: Al Jazeera