Leaders of the BRICS group have called for restraint in the Middle East as tensions continue to escalate, with member states expressing concern that further military action could worsen the regional crisis.
The call was contained in a joint declaration issued on Saturday at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, India, following disagreements among member states over how to address the conflict.
The 11-member bloc said it was deeply concerned about the rising tensions in the Middle East and urged countries involved to avoid steps that could further intensify the situation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who attended the summit alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said the ongoing war did not serve the interests of the international community.
The statement followed the failure of BRICS foreign ministers to reach a common position when they met in New Delhi in May, reflecting divisions among members including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
India, which hosted the summit, pushed for a unified position as BRICS seeks to strengthen its influence on global security, trade and energy issues.
Opening the summit, Modi said BRICS should move beyond a system dominated by a few powerful countries and become a platform where member states could work together on global challenges.
He said the bloc represents about half of the world’s population, 40 per cent of global economic output and more than a quarter of international trade.
The Middle East crisis has also placed India in a delicate diplomatic position. New Delhi maintains relations with Iran while also having close ties with Israel and the United States.
Pezeshkian used his participation at the summit to criticise the role of the United States in the region, saying the Middle East did not require Washington to act as its security enforcer.
The conflict has also raised concerns over energy supplies, particularly the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil shipments.
Meanwhile, the summit provided an opportunity for Modi and Xi to discuss efforts to improve relations between India and China.
The Chinese leader’s visit was his first to India since 2019 and came after years of strained relations following a deadly border clash between the two countries.
Both governments said their leaders agreed to pursue a fair and mutually acceptable solution to their longstanding border dispute.
Despite the diplomatic thaw, disagreements remain over their disputed Himalayan boundary, trade imbalance and wider strategic competition.
BRICS was established in 2009 by major emerging economies seeking greater representation in global institutions. The group has since expanded its membership and now includes countries with differing political, economic and strategic interests.
