BRICS leaders adopt joint statement calling for restraint in Middle East conflict
BRICS summit ends with a joint declaration urging restraint in the Middle East, while oil prices rise on escalating tensions.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
The BRICS summit in New Delhi ended with a joint declaration on the Middle East conflict, as leaders from 11 member nations agreed to call for restraint. The statement also expressed firm opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians and supported a two-state solution.
The two-day meeting, hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brought together leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin, China's Xi Jinping and Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian. Despite deep divisions, the group managed to find common language on key issues.
The declaration was seen as a diplomatic breakthrough, given the differing positions of Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which sit on opposite sides of the US-Iran war. India's balancing act was highlighted as Modi called for moving from a 'pyramid of privilege' to a 'partnership of people'.
China's Xi and India's Modi held a bilateral meeting, the first visit by Xi to India in seven years, signalling a possible thaw in relations. The summit also discussed trade issues, including the impact of tariffs and the push to reduce reliance on the US dollar through a digital payment system.
Meanwhile, the escalating conflict in the Middle East has pushed up oil prices. Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea have disrupted shipping routes, leading to higher petrol and energy costs. The price of natural gas has spiked, raising concerns about fresh inflationary pressures.
Iran's president insisted his country is not at war with Saudi Arabia, despite recent attacks. However, a strike on Saudi Arabia near the Yemen border injured two people, and an Iranian commercial vessel was struck off Qeshm Island, killing one person.
The BRICS group, which represents nearly half the world's population and 40% of global GDP, remains a disparate coalition. While some members want to counterbalance Western influence, others, including India, are keen to avoid an anti-Western stance. The unity of the group will continue to be tested in the weeks ahead.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | Sky News |
|---|---|---|
| Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend the BRICS summit. | ||
| The BRICS summit agenda is dominated by the US-Iran conflict and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. | ||
| Iran is a member of BRICS. | · | |
| Iran's president stated that Iran is not at war with Saudi Arabia and that the Houthis have their own problems. | · | |
| Leaders from 11 BRICS nations will hold talks, with Saudi Arabia attending as an invited member. | · | |
| Petrol prices rose 5p in the last week and are 30% higher than at the start of the Iran war in February. | · | |
| The 11 leaders at the BRICS summit adopted a joint declaration urging maximum restraint in the Middle East war. | · | |
| The 18th annual BRICS summit is hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. | · | |
| The joint statement avoided direct mention of the US-Iran war. | · | |
| The joint statement expressed firm opposition to forced displacement of Palestinians. | · | |
| The meeting will discuss reducing use of the US dollar and expanding independent digital payment networks. | · | |
| The summit was seen as a diplomatic breakthrough because the joint statement was agreed on day one. | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News focused on the diplomatic breakthrough of the joint declaration and the challenges of reaching agreement among 11 diverse nations. It highlighted India's balancing act between the US and BRICS members, and the significance of the Xi-Modi bilateral meeting.
- “The biggest challenge for the member nations at the summit was to try and find language in that joint statement which would be acceptable to all given the fact that there are 11 countries who make up BRICS and they all come with differences in their opinions about various global events”
- “Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it very clear in his opening remarks in a message to the west saying that this is like a pyramid where a lot of power is centralized at the top”
- “It was Xi Jinping's first visit to India in seven years which indicated somewhat of a thaw in relations”
Sky News covered the contradictions within BRICS, the balancing act for India, and the immediate impact of the conflict on oil prices and regional security. It included an interview with Iran's president and reported on recent attacks in the region.
- “It's a grouping of these very disparate countries together... but it also has disparities in terms of contradictions in itself.”
- “All 11 leaders at the BRICS summit adopted the declaration in what's seen as a sign of diplomatic progress between countries divided by the war.”
- “We are not at war with Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have their own problems.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.