BRICS foreign ministers fail to reach consensus as Iran‑UAE clash blocks joint statement

The BRICS foreign ministers met in New Delhi on 14‑15 May 2026, the first major gathering under India’s chairmanship. The expanded bloc, now including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, could not agree on a joint communique. Iran objected to paragraphs on Gaza/Palestine and on free navigation in the Red Sea and Bab Al‑Mandab Strait, accusing the UAE of blocking language because of its “special relationship with Israel”. The UAE denied the allegation and highlighted concerns over Iran’s missile strikes and disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, the meeting concluded with only a chair’s statement noting that “a member had reservations” on those sections, without naming any country.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov used the visit to hold bilateral talks with Indian leaders, reaffirming the India‑Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and discussing Ukraine, West Asia and BRICS cooperation. A side‑stage incident – Lavrov’s warning to a journalist about a ringing phone – went viral but did not affect the diplomatic agenda. The failure to produce a joint statement underscores growing fault lines within BRICS over the Middle‑East conflicts and maritime security.

The outcome highlights the challenges of consensus in a bloc that now spans ten countries across Asia, Africa and South America, and signals continued geopolitical tension between Iran and the UAE within the wider BRICS framework.