BRICS: Last-ditch political efforts seek to bridge West Asia divide

Source: The New Indian Express | Original Published At: 2026-09-10 17:16:40 UTC

Key Points

• Political-level negotiations are under way to secure a joint statement at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, with the West Asia crisis putting consensus-building under strain.
• Iran and the UAE are divided over language on the conflict, with Tehran seeking explicit reference to attacks on it and the UAE demanding recognition of alleged attacks on its sovereignty.
• The UAE delegation at the September 12-13 summit will be led by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while Saudi Arabia will be represented by Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
• Broad acceptance is reported for retaining the 2025 Rio declaration language on Palestine, including describing Gaza as an inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
• The article notes that BRICS expansion from five to eleven members has brought together countries with increasingly divergent geopolitical interests.
• The New Delhi summit is framed as a test of whether expanded BRICS can convert multipolarity and Global South solidarity into a functioning consensus mechanism.