(May 14): India faces the challenge of bridging deep divisions within the BRICS bloc gathering in New Delhi this week, as members remain split over the Middle East conflict and China’s focus is diverted by President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing.
New Delhi is hosting the two-day BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, which kicked off on Thursday, with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar chairing the gathering. The bloc has been at odds over how to respond to the war in Iran, following US and Israeli strikes launched more than two months ago, with divisions deepening as members appear to be aligned on opposing sides.
In remarks on Thursday, Jaishankar urged the group to work towards a more stable and inclusive international order. “The conflict in West Asia merits particular attention. Continuing tensions, risks to maritime traffic, and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation,” he said.
Iran has been pressing the group to condemn the military campaign by US and Israel, and has sought India’s backing in doing so, Bloomberg News reported earlier. The United Arab Emirates, which joined the group in 2024, is unlikely to agree. Iran, also a BRICS member since 2024, has responded to the US attacks by launching strikes at the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said one member country was pushing the group to condemn Iran, holding up a consensus on the conflict, according to India’s PTI news agency.
In New Delhi on Thursday, Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abbas Araghchi told BRICS members that Iranians are “fully prepared to defend their independence, territorial integrity and national interests,” according to a series of posts by his government on X.
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“India find itself in a difficult position as it tries to find a consensus among the contending view points and partners,” said Deepika Saraswat, an associate fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a think tank in New Delhi. “I will not be surprised if there is no consensus at the end of the foreign ministers meeting.”
The gathering in New Delhi risks being overshadowed by Trump’s visit to Beijing. China is Iran’s biggest buyer of oil and a key provider of diplomatic support on the world stage. China is also a founding member of the BRICS and the largest economy within the bloc.
China’s foreign minister will not visit New Delhi this week, with the country instead represented at the BRICS meeting by its ambassador to India, Xu Feihong.
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“Everyone at the BRICS foreign minister meeting will be watching out for the meeting between President Xi and Donald Trump because each one of them have interest with US and China,” said Harsh Pant, professor of international relations at King’s College London and Vice President at Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank. “I think the BRICS foreign summit will be a subdued affair.”
The BRICS has fallen short of reaching consensus on key global issues in the past. Last year, the group condemned the July 2025 US-Israeli strikes on Iran, but it was silent on the US capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE on Friday, the second day of the BRICS meet, has also raised questions about New Delhi’s strategic priorities. “India’s chairship of BRICS has been rather muted,” said Constantino Xavier, senior fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, a New Delhi-based think tank.
“As Beijing normalises ties with Washington, it is unlikely that India will increase its investment to strengthen BRICS. Delhi’s diversification strategy in the next months will rather focus on other bilateral partnerships, including with Europe, Japan and Africa.”
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