Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra poses for a group photograph during the BRICS MENA meeting, in New Delhi. Photo credit: @MEAIndia/X via PTI
Extended late-night parleys and heated debates marked the meeting of the 11-nation BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys in New Delhi that ended without a joint statement on Friday (April 24, 2026), The Hindu has learnt, indicating more trouble for India’s BRICS Presidency this year.
While delegates from the United Arab Emirates and Iran sparred over the war in West Asia, a number of diplomatic and official sources present or briefed about the discussions said that the meetings on April 23-24 also saw an unexpected attempt by India to “tone down” language on Israel and Palestine, which was opposed by almost all other members.
Published – April 26, 2026 11:14 pm IST
