BRICS nations call for 'maximum restraint' in Middle East war

Members of the BRICS group - China, Russia, Iran and India - convened in New Delhi on Saturday for a summit aimed at easing tensions in the Middle East. Overcoming past divisions, they issued a joint statement urging for maximum restraint and the avoidance of actions that could exacerbate the situation. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that the Middle East war does not serve the common interests of the international community.

The foreign ministers earlier had failed to reach an agreement on a joint statement, as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE held differing views on the war that commenced with US-Israeli strikes in February. However, leaders managed to issue a statement after considerable diplomatic efforts by India, a nation seeking to augment its global sway and tackle conflict, trade turbulence, and energy security concerns.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East/West Asia. The BRICS forum, established in 2009, aims to bolster the influence of major emerging economies in institutions dominated by Western powers.

Modi encouraged the leaders to transform the existing hierarchical structure into a platform of partnership, emphasizing that every country should have a voice, every member should have a stake, and humanity's development should be at the forefront of every effort. With 50% of the world's population, 40% of global GDP, and over 25% of global trade, BRICS nations represent a formidable presence on the world stage.

However, achieving unity within the bloc remains a challenging diplomatic task, as India maintains friendly relations with Iran and Israel while carefully balancing its ties with the United States.