Chicago – May 15, 2026
Top diplomats from BRICS nations concluded a two‑day meeting in New Delhi on Friday without issuing a joint statement, underscoring deepening rifts within the bloc over the war involving Iran.
Host India said “differing views among some members” on the Middle East conflict had prevented consensus, releasing only a chair’s statement that acknowledged members’ varied national positions.
Iran and the United Arab Emirates, now both BRICS members, are at odds over how to frame the Gulf conflict, with Tehran accusing one bloc member—widely seen as the UAE—of blocking language that does not single out Iran for condemnation.
Brazilian, Chinese, and Russian officials have publicly criticized U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, while others, including India and South Africa, have avoided explicitly naming any party, reflecting a fractured diplomatic front.
