BRICS Meet Ends in Diplomatic Deadlock as Gaza and Red Sea Tensions Block Joint Declaration

The two day conclave of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi ended without a joint statement on Friday after sharp disagreements emerged over the ongoing West Asia conflict , exposing deep fault lines within the influential grouping of emerging economies.

India, which currently holds the BRICS chairmanship and hosted the meeting ahead of the annual summit scheduled later this year, was ultimately forced to release a chair’s statement and outcome document instead of a consensus declaration, a rare indication of the widening geopolitical tensions inside the bloc.

At the heart of the disagreement were differing views on the Israel Gaza conflict , the status of the Palestinian territories , and maritime security in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait . The divisions became particularly visible between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) , with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi openly accusing one unnamed country of blocking stronger language against Israel.

Speaking at a media briefing, Araghchi alleged that the same country had aided the United States and Israel during attacks on Iran by allowing access to its airspace and military facilities. Though he did not directly name the UAE, his remarks clearly pointed toward Abu Dhabi, bringing regional rivalries into full public view during the summit.

India’s chair statement diplomatically acknowledged the lack of agreement, noting that there were “differing views among some members” regarding developments in West Asia . Two key paragraphs in the outcome document reportedly failed to secure unanimity. One stressed the need to unify the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority , while another called for ensuring navigational freedoms in the Red Sea region in accordance with international law.

Despite the disagreement, the BRICS ministers reaffirmed support for a two state solution and backed full United Nations membership for Palestine. The statement also reiterated calls for dialogue, protection of civilians, respect for sovereignty, and uninterrupted maritime trade routes.

The meeting additionally saw strong criticism of unilateral economic sanctions , a position widely interpreted as a message directed at Western nations. The ministers also jointly condemned terrorism in all forms, including the Pahalgam terror attack , and called for zero tolerance against terrorism , terror financing, and cross border terror networks.

While India managed to prevent the summit from collapsing entirely, the absence of a unified declaration highlighted the growing challenge of maintaining cohesion within BRICS as regional conflicts increasingly shape global diplomacy.