India on Thursday highlighted its concerns related to the conflict in West Asia, including disruption to energy infrastructure and security of the Strait of Hormuz, at a crucial BRICS meeting, even as it urged members of the bloc to stand against the increasing use of coercive measures and unilateral sanctions.
New Delhi is hosting a meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS countries, which includes India, Brazil, China, Russia, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, at a time when the country has been exposed to disruptions in global trade and energy supplies due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is chairing the two-day meeting, specifically referred to the conflict in West Asia in his address to the gathering and said: “Continuing tensions and risks to maritime traffic and disruption to energy infrastructure highlight the fragility of the situation.” He said that safe and unhindered maritime flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are “vital to the well-being of the global economy.”
In an attempt to address concerns within the bloc over the situation in Gaza and Palestine, Jaishankar said the wider region was also causing serious concern. “The conflict in Gaza has serious humanitarian implications. A sustainable ceasefire, humanitarian access and a credible path towards a lasting and peaceful solution remain essential,” he said, reiterating India’s support for a two-state solution to the Palestinian issue but without referring to Israel.
While referring to the situation in Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Sudan, humanitarian concerns and maritime risks related to Yemen, Jaishankar expressed his support for continued and coordinated global efforts to find solutions. He added: “Taken together, they confirm a clear truth: stability cannot be selective, and peace cannot be fragmented.”
Jaishankar stressed the need to respect international law, protect civilians, and avoid targeting public infrastructure, and said that India will contribute constructively to efforts to stop escalation and support initiatives aimed at restoring stability.
Without naming any specific country, Jaishankar said BRICS members must “address the increasing resort to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions that are inconsistent with international law and the UN Charter.” His statements came against the backdrop of US sanctions that affected India’s purchases of cheap Russian energy and its participation in the development of the Iranian strategic port of Chabahar.
“Such measures disproportionately affect developing countries. These unjustified measures cannot replace dialogue, and pressure cannot replace diplomacy,” he said. He noted that such challenges will widen disparities and restrict development at a time when many developing countries are trying to manage vulnerabilities under increasingly difficult global conditions.
The BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting was subject to sharp disagreements between Iran and the UAE over the conflict in West Asia, raising doubts about whether the bloc, which works by consensus, would be able to agree on a joint statement.
The Indian side had to strike a balance between the UAE, with which economic, energy and security cooperation has grown rapidly in recent years, and Iran, with which the country has long-standing friendly relations. India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, was also severely affected by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Citing geopolitical turmoil and economic uncertainty caused by the climate crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and conflicts, as well as the “rebalancing and democratization of the global system,” Jaishankar stressed the need for BRICS member states to work together to address “challenges that test the resilience of multilateral systems.”
He added that the solidarity of the BRICS countries has become more important at a time when these issues are affecting developing countries through pressures on energy, food security, fertilizers and supply chain disruption. He added: “Collective action and determination are essential to promoting stability, sustainability and prosperity… Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain the foundation of international relations. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only sustainable means of resolving conflicts.”
Among the foreign ministers who will attend the meeting are Iranian Seyed Abbas Araqchi, Russian Sergei Lavrov, Brazilian Mauro Vieira, Indonesian Sugiono, and Ronald Lamola from South Africa. The absence of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was clear, as he stayed in Beijing on a visit by US President Donald Trump, and the Chinese side was represented by Ambassador Xu Feihong.
Jaishankar also described terrorism as a “constant threat” and said there can be no justification for any form of terrorism. “Cross-border terrorism violates the basic principles of international relations. Zero tolerance must remain an uncompromising global norm,” he said.
As technological advances reshape the global landscape, Jaishankar cited the need to bridge the digital divide and address concerns around trust, transparency and equitable access to emerging technologies. He also called for reform of the UN Security Council, while pointing out the weakness of the multilateral system.
“The state of the United Nations, which is at its core, is particularly worrying,” he said. “And with each passing day, the case for reforming multilateralism becomes stronger.” “The message of our time is clear: cooperation is essential, dialogue is essential, and reform is overdue. We must work together to forge a more stable, equitable and inclusive international order.”
The meeting of foreign ministers of the BRICS countries is considered crucial to prepare for the bloc’s summit scheduled to be held in September. Deliberations during the two-day meeting will set the stage for the summit at a time when many members of the bloc, which represents 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade, have been hurt by US trade and tariff policies.
BRICS foreign ministers and other senior officials also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said the bloc has become “an important platform for strengthening cooperation among emerging economies and giving voice to the aspirations of the Global South.” Under India’s presidency, the BRICS countries will work to promote multilateralism, enhance economic resilience and build a “more inclusive global order,” Modi said on social media.
