Foreign ministers of the BRICS grouping began a two-day meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday [1], [2].
The summit occurs as the escalating war between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance heightens tensions across West Asia. This conflict serves as a critical test for the unity of the BRICS bloc, which includes members with diverging strategic interests in the region.
India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is chairing the proceedings [3]. Among the attendees is Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, whose presence underscores the bloc's attempt to maintain a diplomatic forum despite the surrounding geopolitical volatility [1], [2].
The meeting, which officially started May 13, 2026 [2], is scheduled to last for two days [1]. The agenda is expected to be overshadowed by the security crisis in the Gulf, as members navigate their respective relationships with the combatants.
Because BRICS seeks to position itself as an alternative to Western-led global governance, the ability of the ministers to find common ground on the Iran conflict is pivotal. The gathering in New Delhi represents a moment where the bloc must reconcile its internal diplomatic ties with the reality of an active war involving one of its members [1], [3].
“The summit occurs as the escalating war between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance heightens tensions across West Asia.”
The New Delhi meeting highlights the inherent tension within BRICS between its goal of creating a multipolar world order and the practical difficulties of maintaining bloc cohesion when member states are embroiled in high-stakes conflicts with Western powers. If the group fails to project a unified front or a viable peace initiative, it may undermine its credibility as a global diplomatic alternative to the G7.
