Personal representatives known as sherpas from across the BRICS bloc are engaged in intensive consultations aimed at producing a cohesive statement on the escalating crises in West Asia, but internal disagreements remain significant obstacles.
The grouping—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and new member Saudi Arabia—has historically struggled to present a unified front on Middle Eastern issues. The tension is particularly acute given that regional members Saudi Arabia and Iran are themselves geopolitical rivals, while other members maintain separate strategic partnerships with various actors in the conflict zone.
Sources familiar with the discussions indicate that sherpas have been exchanging proposals and positioning papers over recent weeks, attempting to find language that all ten members can endorse. The focus has centered on the broader instability engulfing the region, including ongoing military confrontations, humanitarian concerns, and the future of diplomatic frameworks.
India, which holds considerable sway within the coalition, has traditionally pursued a balanced approach in West Asia, maintaining defense and energy ties with Gulf states while also managing relationships with Iran. This calibrated stance has occasionally created friction with other BRICS partners who hold more aligned positions on specific regional disputes.
China and Russia have both sought to position themselves as alternative diplomatic interlocutors in the Middle East, separate from Western-led initiatives. Their presence within BRICS adds another layer of complexity to consensus-building efforts.
Diplomatic observers note that while a complete break among members is unlikely, the ability of BRICS to issue joint statements on West Asia remains uncertain. Previous summits have seen members skip or water down language on sensitive regional topics rather than confront outright disagreement.
The outcome of these sherpas-level talks will likely be announced ahead of the next scheduled BRICS leadership meeting, where the unified or fragmented nature of the bloc's Middle East policy will become publicly clear.
