The May 14-15 annual meeting of Foreign Ministers of the BRICS+ countries ended without issuance of a final declaration of the Ministers, due to differences on the war against Iran. The “outcome statement” which was released acknowledged “differing views” on the war, which have been manifest since that war began 77 days ago. One member, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) engaged in direct military conflict with another, Iran. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi avoided mentioning the U.A.E. in his opening remarks to the conference, but after the latter attacked Araghchi’s opening, he asked for the floor again and reciprocated against the U.A.E. At the same time, India’s hosting Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, went from the meeting to a visit to the U.A.E.
The Summary Statement called for “the need for dialogue and diplomacy, respect for sovereignty, unimpeded maritime flows and the protection of civilian lives.”
The meeting was not the first of the year 2026, in which the BRICS are chaired by India, and was under the direction of India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Foreign Ministers met on the subject of the Middle East on April 24 in New Delhi, and did not agree on a statement then as well. The BRICS heads of state and government are scheduled to meet in September.
At this meeting, Jaishankar said “Safe and unimpeded maritime flows through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, remain vital for global economic well-being.”