The escalating US-Israel war on Iran threatens to fracture a critical gathering of developing nations this week, as foreign ministers from the BRICS grouping convene in New Delhi facing deep divisions over a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and endangered civilian populations across the Gulf region.
The two-day meeting, which kicks off Thursday and runs through May 14–15, brings together representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates—a bloc that has struggled to forge consensus since the US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28.
Regional Tensions Complicate Diplomacy
Iran had urged India, the BRICS chair for 2026, to use the platform to build a consensus condemning US and Israeli actions in the Gulf conflict. The main differences have emerged between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, which began lobbing missiles and drones at Gulf countries after the war began. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is likely to arrive late on Wednesday to attend the gathering, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to attend the meeting. It was not immediately clear who would represent the UAE during the meeting.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said in March that some BRICS members were involved directly in the conflict, due to which it had been "difficult for us to forge a consensus." Another ministry official told Reuters that India was hopeful it would get a joint statement after the latest round of meetings with foreign ministers.
Economic Fallout Hits Developing Economies
Soaring energy prices caused by Iran largely closing the Strait of Hormuz have thrown global markets into turmoil. The US later imposed its own blockade of Iranian ports in response. The blockade over the key waterway has prompted many BRICS nations, including India, to introduce emergency measures to protect their economies and consumers—a burden that falls disproportionately on working families and vulnerable populations in developing countries.
During the fighting, the UAE and other Gulf states did not join the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, though a report Monday claimed the Emirates and Saudi Arabia had quietly struck Iranian military and energy sites in early April, a revelation liable to raise tensions.
Fragile Hopes for Collective Action
Former Indian diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri said, "Glad that the foreign ministers from all the BRICS countries, except China who is otherwise tied up, are coming. This is a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south," and added, "Of course political solutions are difficult but the fact that they are meeting is positive and hopefully it will lead to a way forward."
So far, China has taken a nominally neutral stance, given its robust ties with both Iran and Sunni-majority Arab states. China will be represented by its Ambassador to India Xu Feihong to fill in for its Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is unlikely to travel with US President Donald Trump visiting Beijing this week.
Why This Matters:
The BRICS forum represents a crucial platform for developing nations to coordinate responses to crises that threaten their economic stability and the wellbeing of their populations. The conflict's disruption of energy markets through blockades and military action has forced emergency measures across multiple countries, with ordinary citizens bearing the cost through higher prices and economic uncertainty. The inability to reach consensus on condemning actions that have destabilized a vital global trade route underscores how great power conflicts can paralyze institutions meant to protect the interests of the global south. Whether these nations can forge collective action to address humanitarian concerns and economic disruption will test multilateral cooperation at a moment when working families in developing economies need coordinated international responses to protect their livelihoods from the cascading effects of military escalation.