Soaring energy prices, a direct consequence of the conflict in the Gulf, have thrown global markets into turmoil and forced nations, including India, to implement emergency measures to protect their economies and consumers. This economic burden on the native working class forms the backdrop for a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the expanded BRICS grouping, which commences in New Delhi, India, on Thursday.
The BRICS grouping, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has systematically expanded its reach over the years to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. This expansion solidifies its role as a significant supranational entity.
Iran, a newly integrated member, has pressed India, the BRICS chair for 2026, to leverage the platform to construct a consensus condemning US and Israeli actions in the Gulf conflict. This move underscores the ambition of some members to use the bloc to dictate collective foreign policy, potentially overriding national sovereignty.
The US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28, same year, is set to overshadow the forum, testing the bloc’s capacity to achieve a unified position and issue a joint statement. Iran initiated missile and drone attacks on Gulf countries following the launch of the US and Israeli war.
The Cost to the People
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, a key waterway, has been a primary driver of the global market turmoil and the subsequent imposition of emergency economic measures by BRICS nations. The US later responded by imposing its own blockade of Iranian ports.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in March that the direct involvement of some BRICS members in the conflict had made it “difficult for us to forge a consensus.” This internal division highlights the inherent challenges in unifying disparate national interests under a single supranational banner.
A report released in early April, same year, claimed that the Emirates and Saudi Arabia had quietly conducted strikes on Iranian military and energy sites. This revelation is liable to escalate tensions within the region and among BRICS members, further complicating the pursuit of a unified stance.
Despite these evident divisions, another Indian ministry official informed Reuters that India remained hopeful of securing a joint statement after the latest round of meetings with foreign ministers. This persistent drive for a collective declaration reflects the globalist impulse to present a united front, even when national interests diverge.
Supranational Ambitions
Former Indian diplomat Manjeev Singh Puri expressed satisfaction at the attendance of foreign ministers from all BRICS countries, with the exception of China. Puri remarked that this attendance was “a good sign on efforts to build a BRICS coalition around a matter of interest to emerging economies and the global south.” He added that while “political solutions are difficult,” the meeting itself was “positive and hopefully it will lead to a way forward.” Such statements from elite figures consistently advocate for the formation of supranational coalitions, often framing them as beneficial for “emerging economies” without detailing the specific costs to the native populations of member states.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is anticipated to arrive late on Wednesday to participate in the gathering, which is scheduled to conclude on May 15. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to attend the meeting, signaling the continued engagement of key players in this evolving globalist architecture.
China, maintaining nominally neutral ties with both Iran and Sunni-majority Arab states, will be represented by its Ambassador to India Xu Feihong. Its Foreign Minister Wang Yi is not expected to travel due to a visit by US President Donald Trump to Beijing this week. The absence of a high-level Chinese representative underscores the complex geopolitical maneuvering that often takes precedence over the stated goals of such international forums.