Foreign ministers from BRICS member countries, including Iran and Russia, are meeting in India on Thursday, with the ongoing Middle East conflict and its impact on global energy markets expected to dominate discussions.
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India, which holds the BRICS chair this year, is hosting the two-day gathering of foreign ministers from the expanded bloc, which now includes Iran and the United Arab Emirates, countries affected by the ongoing regional conflict.
India’s foreign ministry said the talks will focus on “global and regional issues of mutual interest,” according to spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi late Wednesday, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also attended and held talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Discussions between Jaishankar and Lavrov covered trade, investment, energy, and connectivity, along with broader global and multilateral issues. Jaishankar said cooperation among members is especially important in an “uncertain and volatile global environment.”
The conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to Gulf shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have contributed to volatility in oil and gas markets, increasing pressure on energy-importing countries such as India.
BRICS, originally formed in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has since expanded to include new members, reflecting efforts to strengthen its global economic and political influence.
A joint statement from the meeting remains uncertain due to differing positions among member states on key geopolitical issues, including the Middle East conflict.
