Why the Iran conflict is becoming a problem for BRICS – Al Jazeera

A two-day meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in New Delhi concluded on May 15, 2026, without the bloc reaching a common position on the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. This marks the second consecutive gathering held in India where the member states failed to produce a consensus regarding the conflict.

The meeting, which opened on May 14, 2026, was held at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. It was chaired by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and served as the first major ministerial engagement under India’s 2026 BRICS presidency.

According to the bloc’s outcome document, the members were unable to agree on a joint stance, acknowledging only that differing views remained among the participants regarding the hostilities in the Middle East.

Conflict Escalation and Economic Impact

The diplomatic deadlock in New Delhi occurred as the US-Israel war on Iran reached its 77th day. The conflict began on February 28, 2026, following strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iranian infrastructure, nuclear facilities, and military sites.

The military escalation has led to significant disruptions in global trade and energy markets. In response to the strikes, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, a move that has caused global energy prices to surge.

Diplomatic attempts to resolve the crisis have struggled to gain traction. Efforts including talks mediated by Pakistan in Islamabad during April 2026 have stalled, leaving the conflict without a clear diplomatic exit strategy.

Tensions Within the BRICS Bloc

The inability to form a joint statement highlights internal divisions within the 10-member grouping of emerging economies. Iran has specifically urged BRICS nations to issue a formal condemnation of what it describes as US-Israeli war aggression.

The BRICS bloc is designed to coordinate on security and economic issues, with the overarching goal of securing a more influential voice for the Global South within international institutions that have historically been dominated by Western powers.

The lack of consensus on the Iran conflict suggests a challenge for the group as it attempts to present a unified front on global security matters. The division persists despite the group’s stated objective of providing an alternative to Western-led diplomatic frameworks.

Future Outlook for India’s Presidency

The failure to reach an agreement in New Delhi sets a complex tone for the remainder of India’s 2026 presidency. The ministerial meeting was intended to lay the groundwork for higher-level coordination among the member states.

The member nations are scheduled to convene again for a leaders’ summit in India in September 2026. Whether the bloc can resolve its disagreements over the Middle East crisis before the summit remains uncertain, as the outcome document from the May meeting confirms that significant differences in perspective persist.