BRICS Leaders Adopt Joint Declaration, Call for Restraint in Middle East

Leaders of the BRICS group of nations unanimously adopted a joint declaration on the first day of their two-day summit in New Delhi, despite divisions among members over the wars in Iran and Ukraine.

The New Delhi Declaration, adopted on Saturday, called for restraint in the Middle East but avoided condemning US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s targeting of Gulf countries in the region. It also criticized the global trade war without naming the United States. The declaration expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East and called for maximum restraint, advocating for a multilateral approach that respects national viewpoints.

It reiterated commitment to peaceful resolution of international disputes through dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the summit. Attendees included Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. BRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers.

The 11-member bloc aims to bolster its global influence and address conflict, trade turbulence, and energy security. However, members like India and China engaged in a deadly border clash in 2020. Iran and the UAE have been on opposing ends of the war in the Middle East, with Tehran launching missiles and drones at the UAE.

BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement in New Delhi in May due to divisions over the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.