What's happened
BRICS foreign ministers conference in New Delhi is ongoing as members push for reform of global governance while clashing over Israel-Gaza war, Iran-UAE tensions, and regional security. India chairs the group for 2026; no joint closing statement has emerged amid conflicting positions.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- BRICS is struggling to reconcile divergent positions among its members on the Gaza war and Middle East alignments, highlighting the bloc's difficulty in acting as a unified global south voice.
- Iran and UAE are on opposing sides in the broader conflict, complicating consensus and leading to reservations on Gaza language in draft communiqués.
- India’s push for universal governance reform and representation within UN bodies remains a core aim, but regional rivalries threaten a cohesive statement.
- The absence of a joint final document indicates strategic disagreements will likely persist, with potential shifts as members navigate economic pressures and energy security.
- The ongoing talks signal BRICS’ intent to position itself as a stabilising force for emerging economies, even as it acknowledges the fragility of collective action in volatile regional dynamics.
How we got here
BRICS has expanded beyond the original five members to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, the UAE and Indonesia. The 2026 chair is held by India, hosting ministers in New Delhi as they debate regional security, sanctions and governance reform amid the Iran-Israel-US war.
Our analysis
Al Jazeera, The Independent, Reuters, The New Arab provide context on BRICS’ internal divisions and the evolving membership. Quotes reflect the differing views of Iran’s Abbas Araghchi and UAE representatives, as well as statements from India’s Jaishankar.
Go deeper
- What is BRICS hoping to achieve with a shared statement?
- How are Iran and UAE influencing BRICS’ cohesion?
- What would a reform of global governance look like for BRICS?
More on these topics
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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.