BRICS countries call for maximum restraint in the Middle East
Leaders of BRICS countries at a summit in New Delhi, India, called for maximum restraint over the war in the Middle East and adopted a joint statement after previous disagreements within the bloc. The document expresses “deep concern” over the further escalation of tensions in the Middle East and West Asia and calls for avoiding actions that could aggravate the situation.
As Dawn reports, the meeting was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, of the aggressor state, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other leaders. Xi Jinping said that the war in the Middle East “does not serve the common interests of the international community.”
Joint statement after disagreements
In May, BRICS foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint statement during a meeting in New Delhi. Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had differing positions on the war, which, according to the source, began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28.
The leaders approved the joint document after active diplomatic efforts by India as the summit’s host country. BRICS seeks to strengthen its influence in the world and discusses conflicts, trade instability, and energy security.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Opening the two-day summit, Modi said that BRICS countries represent 50% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP, and more than 25% of world trade. He called for transforming the “pyramid of privileges” into a “platform of partnership.”
Leaders’ meetings
Before the summit, Pezeshkian said that the Middle East does not need the United States as a “regional policeman.” On the sidelines of the summit, he met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Xi Jinping also called on BRICS members to oppose violations of other states’ sovereignty and interference in their internal affairs, as well as to contribute constructively to crisis settlement. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, he called for supporting the authority of the UN, rejecting all forms of protectionism, and supporting a multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its center.
During the summit, Xi Jinping met with Modi. This is his first visit to India since 2019. According to a statement by India’s Foreign Ministry, the leaders expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable settlement of the border issue between the two countries.
