BRICS Summit Opens in New Delhi as Iran-UAE Tensions Threaten Joint Declaration

The outcome of the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi hinges on a single disputed paragraph in the draft "Delhi Declaration." Negotiators worked late into Friday night attempting to forge consensus language regarding the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, a conflict that has pitted two of the bloc's newest members—Iran and the United Arab Emirates—directly against each other. Because BRICS operates by consensus, the inability of the sherpas to bridge the gap between Tehran and Abu Dhabi threatens to leave the 11-member grouping without a unified statement for the first time at a leaders' summit.[1][2][5]

The structural deadlock stems from the military realities of a war that began in February 2026. Following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, Tehran launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes that hit U.S. military and ancillary installations located within the UAE. In response, Abu Dhabi suspended all trade and financial transactions with Iran in August. Both nations joined BRICS in 2024, bringing their regional security dispute directly into the organization's core decision-making structure.[1][4][5]

During the drafting sessions, the UAE and other members sought language condemning the disruption of regional security. However, Iranian negotiators contested the phrasing, insisting that their strikes on the Gulf region were strictly limited to self-defense against American forces. "Inside BRICS, there are different opinions," Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi acknowledged upon arriving in New Delhi, though he pivoted to emphasize the bloc's shared economic goals.[1][2][4]

The broader economic fallout of the war has severely impacted the rest of the bloc. The conflict has led to a virtual shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime choke point, pushing global crude oil prices above $100 a barrel. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hosting the summit under the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," used the opening BRICS Business Forum to call for secure sea lanes and the safety of seafarers, a direct nod to the maritime disruptions.[1][2][5]

For Modi, the summit requires a delicate diplomatic balancing act. India maintains strong strategic ties with the United States and Israel, while simultaneously relying on Russia for energy and maintaining cordial relations with Iran. Modi held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday, telling Pezeshkian that India supports resolving the conflict "through dialogue and diplomacy."[2][3]

The gathering also marks Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to India since 2019, signaling the importance Beijing places on holding the expanded bloc together. China, which brokered a diplomatic normalization between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023, is now watching those regional stability efforts unravel. Xi's presence alongside Modi represents a cautious thaw between the two nuclear-armed Asian giants, six years after a deadly military clash along their disputed Himalayan border.[1][3][4]

The depth of the intra-bloc tension was underscored by the UAE's delegation. Rather than attending personally, UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan dispatched Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to represent Abu Dhabi. Diplomatic insiders noted that sending the Crown Prince, rather than a lower-level minister, maintains respect for the Indian hosts while keeping the UAE's head of state away from direct engagement with Pezeshkian.[1][2]

The leaders of the 11 member states—which now represent approximately 40 percent of the global GDP—convened for a closed-door session on Saturday morning. If the heads of state cannot resolve the final paragraph of the Delhi Declaration, the summit will likely conclude with a "Chair's Summary" issued by India, repeating the outcome of the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in May and cementing the bloc's geopolitical paralysis.[1][4][5]