BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys Meeting:
The meeting of BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) in New Delhi concluded without a joint consensus, highlighting deep divisions among members over the West Asia conflicts and the Israel–Palestine issue.
- Unable to agree on a joint statement, India (as the current BRICS Chair) issued a Chair’s Statement reflecting discussions rather than a unified position.
- This document acknowledged discussions on the Palestine issue, the Gaza situation, the role of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and the unacceptability of attacks on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
- Indian diplomats faced staunch opposition from almost all other members for attempting to dilute language criticizing Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon.
- India even suggested replacing the term “Israel” with “occupying power” in certain contexts.
- India sought to remove references to “East Jerusalem” as the capital of a future Palestinian state – a change consistent with India’s bilateral statements since 2017 but a point of friction within the broader BRICS forum.
- The deeply polarized environment reflects the complexities of the newly expanded bloc, which now comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE.
