What's happened
BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi have emphasized global governance reforms and unity amid differing views over the Middle East war. Iran has urged BRICS to condemn U.S. and Israeli actions, while member states discuss Gaza, Red Sea security, and Sudan’s crisis.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The meeting reflects a push for a multipolar world order, with the Global South seeking greater representation in global institutions.
- Diverging positions within BRICS underscore the bloc’s challenge in presenting a unified stance on the Middle East war and related security issues.
- The focus on Gaza, Lebanon, and the Red Sea signals BRICS’ interest in regional stability and energy security amid volatile shipping routes through the Hormuz Strait.
- The presence of Iran and the UAE highlights rivalries within the group over alignment in the Persian Gulf and broader conflicts, potentially shaping future consensus on sanctions and diplomatic language.
- Readers should watch whether BRICS can produce a joint statement, given language sensitivities around condemnation of Iran and other actors.
How we got here
The BRICS bloc has expanded to include more members beyond the original five. The New Delhi meeting brings together Iran and the UAE, among others, as tensions in the Iran–U.S.–Israel conflict shape discussions on global governance and regional security.
Our analysis
Al Jazeera and The Independent report on the meeting, with emphasis on India’s chairmanship and the bloc’s ongoing debates over Gaza and regional security. Both note reservations among members about parts of the Gaza section and Red Sea security language.
Go deeper
- What is BRICS hoping to achieve in a joint statement?
- How might internal divisions affect BRICS’ influence on Middle East diplomacy?
More on these topics
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BRICS - Association of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates
BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs.
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Iran - Country in the Middle East
Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Israel - Country in the Middle East
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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United States - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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New Delhi - Capital of India
New Delhi is a district located in NCT Delhi. New Delhi serves as the capital of India and the seat of all three branches of the Government of India. The foundation stone of New Delhi was laid by Emperor George V during the Delhi Durbar of 1911. It was de
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India - Country in South Asia
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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United Arab Emirates - Country in the Middle East
The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m
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Abbas Araghchi - Iranian diplomat
Abbas Araghchi is an Iranian diplomat who is currently the political deputy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran. He previously held office as the Deputy for Asia–Pacific and the Commonwealth Affairs and Legal and International Affairs of the Mini