BRICS Meeting Ends Without Joint Statement Due To West Asia Differences

By Shakir Husain

HYDERABAD, May 15 (Bernama) -- The two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers ended in New Delhi on Friday without a joint statement, highlighting sharp differences among members over the conflict in West Asia.

Instead, India issued a “chair’s statement and outcome document” on the deliberations, reflecting a lack of consensus on the crisis, which has fuelled global economic and security concerns.

"There were differing views among some members as regard to the situation in the West Asia region. BRICS members expressed their respective national positions and shared a range of perspectives," the statement released by India noted.

The BRICS members are Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, while the partner countries are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi, India's BRICS sherpa and a secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, Sudhakar Dalela described the discussions on West Asia as “frank and candid.”

He said the chair’s statement “captures the common position” of BRICS members on almost all issues and provides a good basis for the leadership summit India will host later this year.

BRICS foreign ministers voiced concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, calling for the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“The ministers reiterated their grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with the resumption of continuous Israeli attacks against Gaza and obstruction of the entry of humanitarian aid into the territory,” the statement said.

The meeting also called for adherence to international law, condemned Israel’s use of starvation as a method of warfare against Palestinians, and urged full implementation of the Lebanon ceasefire agreement under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

"They condemned the continued violations of the ceasefire and of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. They called on Israel to respect the terms agreed with the Lebanese government and to withdraw its occupying forces from all of the Lebanese territory, including the five sites in Southern Lebanon in which they remain," the statement said.

China was represented at the ministerial meeting by its ambassador to India Xu Feihong.

"In the face of a complex global landscape, BRICS countries engaged in in-depth and constructive discussions on a wide range of issues. The Chair’s Statement and Outcome Document demonstrate broad consensus on international and regional issues, the future development of BRICS, as well as reform of global governance and the multilateral system," he said in a post on X.

"As incoming Chair, China stands ready to work with all partners to deepen solidarity and cooperation, and looks forward to welcoming colleagues to China next year," he said.

-- BERNAMA