BRICS leaders adopt declaration urging restraint as Middle East conflict deepens
At their summit in New Delhi, BRICS leaders unanimously agreed on a declaration expressing serious concern over escalating Middle East tensions. The statement called for maximum restraint and reaffirmed support for Palestinian statehood, whilst notably avoiding direct criticism of any specific party to the conflict.
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The BRICS summit convened in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bringing together Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leading figures. The bloc unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which articulated profound concern about the intensifying Middle East crisis and emphasised the importance of exercising maximum restraint. The declaration advocated for a multilateral approach that respects diverse national perspectives on the matter.
Notably, the declaration refrained from identifying the United States, Israel or Iran as responsible for the six-month conflict devastating the region, revealing existing disagreements within BRICS about how openly to challenge Washington and its allies. Nevertheless, the text addressed several key issues: it highlighted Israel's obligation under international law to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, expressed firm opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, backed the UN relief agency UNRWA, and reiterated backing for full United Nations membership for Palestine.
The summit took place against a backdrop of American pressure on several BRICS members through tariffs and sanctions targeting their trade relations with Russia and Iran. Modi conducted bilateral discussions with Putin and Pezeshkian before his scheduled meeting with Xi, an encounter widely interpreted as an indicator of whether bloc members could maintain unity despite competing pressures from Washington.
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