BRICS Summit ends without common position on war

“There were different opinions among some members regarding the situation in the West Asia and Middle East region. The BRICS members expressed their respective national positions and shared a variety of perspectives”, noted the text released at the end of the ministerial meeting, according to information from the EFE agency.

The document, published as a declaration by the Indian presidency of the BRICS and not as a joint declaration agreed by all members, highlighted the difficulties of the enlarged bloc in establishing a common stance on the regional crisis.

Alongside Egypt and Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran joined the BRICS in January 2024, a group that was already made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and which was expanded again in 2025, with the entry of Indonesia.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, had asked on Thursday (14) for the BRICS to condemn the United States and Israel for the war against the Iranians that began on February 28 (and since April 7 in a tense ceasefire) and accused the United Arab Emirates of helping in the “aggression” against the Persian regime.

This Friday, Araqchi said that a BRICS member “blocked” a joint statement on the war in the Middle East due to its “special relationship” with Israel and the United States, in a clear reference to the United Arab Emirates.

“This country was not our target during the war, only the American bases on its territory. The only reason for not having a declaration is its support for the USA and Israel”, said the minister.

The final text avoided any direct condemnation of the USA and Israel, although it highlighted that “many members highlighted the impact of recent events on the global economic situation”.

This Friday’s statement added that, among the positions expressed by members, were “the need for a prompt resolution of the current crisis, the value of dialogue and diplomacy, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity”, as well as “the importance of a safe and unobstructed flow of maritime trade through international routes”.

The divisions were also reflected in two sections related to the Gaza Strip and the situation in the Red Sea, to which the Indian presidency added notes clarifying that “one member had reservations about some aspects of this paragraph”.

In April, the UAE government stated that Iran must pay for the damage caused by the Tehran regime’s attacks on Persian Gulf countries during the war against the United States and Israel. Tehran claims it only targeted American bases in those countries.

The UAE intercepted Iranian missiles and drones during the war and this week The Wall Street Journal reported that the Arab country had carried out military operations against Iran in early April.