The BRICS Foreign Ministers met in New Delhi on May 14, opening the two-day affair. These deliberations will be followed by the 18th BRICS summit in September. Prior to today’s opening session, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was called upon by, among others, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. There are also representatives from newer BRICS members and partner countries—including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The joint photo indicated 17 delegations.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar opened the session and stated: “We meet at a time of considerable flux in international relations. Ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainties, and challenges in trade, technology, and climate are shaping the global landscape. There is a growing expectation, particularly from emerging markets and developing countries, that BRICS will play a constructive and stabilizing role.” He said that they should work toward “effective and coordinated responses” to geopolitical and economic uncertainty, revolving around the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
He added: “Continuing tensions, risks to maritime traffic, and disruptions to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation,” which undermines the region. He noted the “humanitarian implications” of the war in Gaza and the “continuing challenges” faced by Lebanon and Syria. BRICS members need to address “the increasing resort to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions…. These unjustifiable measures cannot substitute for dialogue, nor can pressure replace diplomacy.” And such actions “disproportionately affect developing countries.”
