BRICS leaders adopt a joint declaration on 12 September on the first day of their annual summit in New Delhi, expressing “deep concern” over escalating tensions in the Middle East/West Asia and urging “maximum restraint.” The statement calls for avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation and for resolving disputes through “dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy.” It also frames the approach as multilateral and grounded in respect for members’ national viewpoints.
Several outlets report the declaration comes as the US and Iran resume tit-for-tat strikes after a pause in August. They also note that BRICS members include countries with differing positions on the conflict, which makes consensus difficult. Reuters and other summaries highlight that BRICS includes both Iran and the UAE, which is aligned with US and Israeli partners, leading to earlier lack of consensus on whether to condemn US actions. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also reported urging that the conflict does not serve broader international interests.
The outlets’ coverage largely aligns on the “maximum restraint” message and the consensus-building challenge within the bloc, while differing mainly in the amount of additional context provided about related disputes and the summit’s broader agenda.
