Brics agrees joint declaration calling for 'maximum restraint' in Middle East

On Saturday, Brics leaders reached a joint declaration urging "maximum restraint" in the Middle East, bridging divisions that had previously hindered the group from issuing a unified statement at a May foreign ministers meeting. The declaration addresses ongoing tensions exacerbated by the six-month-old Iran war, which has disrupted energy supplies and trade routes.

Members of the 11-nation group emphasized the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. They expressed deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East/West Asia and condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The agreement was a significant diplomatic test for Brics, which now includes the UAE, India, China, Russia, and Iran. The summit in New Delhi came as the war continued to impact a crucial energy corridor, the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel. Despite competing geopolitical interests, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Brics to assume a peacemaking role in the Middle East, stating that the conflict does not serve the interests of the international community.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is hosting the two-day summit, highlighted Brics' role as a platform for the Global South and stressed the importance of transforming the organization into a "platform of partnership" where every country has a voice and stake.