BRICS leaders have expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East, calling for calm and restraint while condemning attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
The leaders made the call on Saturday at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, where member states also sought to strengthen cooperation and push for greater influence for developing countries in global affairs.
The summit, hosted by India under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” brought together leaders from India, China, Russia and other member states.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the discussions as productive, saying the diversity of views among members had not undermined their commitment to BRICS cooperation.
In a joint statement, the bloc said it was seriously concerned about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and called for “calm and maximum restraint.”
The statement also condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities operating under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“Nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment from harm,” the leaders said.
The agreement came after BRICS foreign ministers failed to reach consensus on a joint statement during their meeting in New Delhi in May, amid differences among members, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, over the conflict that followed US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
China’s President Xi Jinping said the war in the Middle East did not serve the interests of the international community and urged BRICS members to work towards maintaining international peace and security.
Xi also called on member states to oppose violations of national sovereignty and interference in the internal affairs of other countries, while urging greater reliance on the United Nations in addressing global conflicts.
“As the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region continues to evolve, the war there has caused serious losses to people across the region,” Xi said, according to Chinese state media.
On economic issues, the BRICS leaders stressed the need to maintain the smooth flow of global trade, supply chains and energy in accordance with international law.
Xi also urged members to reject protectionism and support the multilateral trading system centred on the World Trade Organisation.
The summit was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, among other leaders.
BRICS was established as a platform for emerging economies seeking greater representation in global institutions traditionally dominated by Western powers.
The group has increasingly advocated reforms to the international system and greater representation for developing countries in global decision-making.
