Deputy foreign ministers and special envoys from BRICS countries meeting in New Delhi on Friday expressed “deep concern” over the escalating conflict in West Asia and urged sustained humanitarian assistance, respect for international mechanisms, and renewed political efforts to stabilise the region.
The Chair’s Statement underlined the urgent need for humanitarian aid and highlighted the role of UNRWA in addressing the crisis. Delegates reiterated a “zero-tolerance approach to terrorism” and condemned attacks on UN peacekeeping operations, calling assaults on UNIFIL unacceptable.
Participants welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, discussed pathways for post-conflict reconstruction in Syria, and stressed the need for a political settlement in Yemen. Stability and development in Iraq, revival of Libya’s political process, and the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan were also prominent on the agenda.
The consultations reflected BRICS’ attempt to forge a coordinated position on overlapping crises in the Middle East and North Africa, even as global diplomatic efforts remain fragmented. Officials said the meeting aimed to align perspectives among major emerging economies on conflict resolution, humanitarian response, and long-term regional stability.
Envoys agreed to continue engagement and to reconvene under China’s chairship in 2027, signalling an ongoing BRICS role in shaping discourse on West Asian geopolitics.
Since the conflict began on February 28, attention has turned to BRICS’ role. Tehran has repeatedly urged New Delhi—current chair—to activate the forum as a diplomatic counterweight to Western influence, calling on BRICS to condemn what it terms “military aggression” by the US and Israel. The issue has been raised in talks between Iranian and Indian leaders and officials.
Iran’s push reflects a broader strategy to leverage BRICS, which recently expanded to include Tehran, as a Global South platform. However, divergent strategic interests among members—from close ties with Western powers to strongly anti-Western positions—complicate a common response. For India, the challenge is preserving strategic autonomy while using its presidency to project BRICS as a credible voice for the Global South.
