No BRICS consensus on war, India's Chair summary notes 'deep concern', Pg14

Key Highlights:

• A Chair's summary was issued by India, the 2026 BRICS chair, due to a lack of consensus on the US-Israel war on Iran among member states.
• The BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) met in New Delhi on April 24, 2026, to discuss the regional situation.
• Discussions included the Palestine issue, the Gaza situation, humanitarian aid, the role of UNRWA, and the situation in several countries including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, and Sudan.
• Iran had requested India, as the chair of BRICS, to issue a statement condemning US and Israeli strikes, placing India in a difficult diplomatic position.
• India is expected to host the BRICS Foreign ministers' meeting on May 14-15, with participation from China and Russia.

Detailed Insights:

• The Chair's statement reflects the host's summary of discussions but does not represent an agreement by all members, similar to practices during G20 meetings when consensus on the Russia-Ukraine war was lacking.
• BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia, with differing stances on the US-Israel war on Iran complicating diplomatic efforts.
• Saudi Arabia and the UAE, hosting US bases, have been targeted by Iranian missiles, adding complexity to BRICS discussions and making consensus difficult to achieve.
• India acknowledged the difficulty in forging a consensus due to the direct involvement of some BRICS members in the West Asia conflict, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The upcoming BRICS Foreign ministers' meeting is crucial as India aims to find common ground among member states regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Chair's Summary: A statement issued by the host country summarizing discussions, without necessarily reflecting full agreement by all members.
• BRICS: An intergovernmental organization comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with additional member states.
• UNRWA: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, providing assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees.