A two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the BRICS nations concluded in New Delhi on Friday (May 15, 2026) without a joint statement because of “differing views among some members” on the situation in West Asia, host India said.

The differences highlighted the challenge of maintaining unity within the bloc as it seeks to expand its influence.

The Indian statement said members expressed “their respective national positions and shared a range of perspectives” on issues including sovereignty, maritime security and the protection of civilian infrastructure and civilian lives in the West Asia.

It also included a footnote saying that “a member had reservations” about parts of sections dealing with Gaza and security in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

BRICS includes Brazil, ​Russia, India, China, South Africa, ‌Ethiopia, ⁠Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Divisions among member have become more visible during the Iran war, particularly between Iran and the UAE.

On Thursday (May 14, 2026), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged BRICS nations to condemn the U.S. and Israel over what he described as their “unlawful aggression.” He also called on member states to resist what he called the “politicisation of international institutions”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to participate in the BRICS summit scheduled in September in India, Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko Andrey Yurevich said in Colombo on Wednesday (April 1, 2026), adding that Moscow would support New Delhi’s efforts to forge a consensus among members. Further, Russia will honour all existing contracts on oil, he said, following Russia’s decision to ban export of gasoline with effect from April 1, 2026, owing to price fluctuations.

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“My President has an invitation from the Prime Minister Modi to come to New Delhi, and for the time being, we don’t see any problems which would prevent him from doing so,” he said, while commending India, as BRICS chair, for “doing its best to streamline differences”. “We need to see what will happen by the time of the summit itself. But so far, we consider this invitation with seriousness,” Mr. Rudenko said, citing the “volatile situation” in West Asia. He was addressing the media in an interaction organised by the Colombo-based think tank Pathfinder Foundation. Mr. Rudenko’s official visit comes barely a week after Russian Deputy Minister for Energy Roman Marshavin was in Sri Lanka, pledging Moscow’s support to Colombo to cope with the energy crisis stemming from the conflict in West Asia.

Commenting on the challenges in building consensus within the 10-nation grouping — which also includes Iran and the United Arab Emirates — the visiting Russian official described BRICS as an entity that brings together countries with different policies and national priorities. “And while they chose to join it, they want these priorities coordinated in a more systematic way to better protect their interests worldwide. But their national policies sometimes differ radically,” he said.

Further, terming the grouping “quite a flexible organisation” that allows each member state to retain “its own voice”, he added that building consensus is difficult when members are “on different sides of the frontline.” “One of the great consequences of the conflict is the growing wedge between Iran and its Arab neighbours,” he said. Last month, India sent invitations to all member states for the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in May and the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September.

Meanwhile, Russia will implement all past contracts on oil exports, he said, when asked about the impact of Moscow’s decision to ban gasoline exports. “To tell you frankly, Russia’s natural resources are not also unlimited…but we will do our best,” he said, adding that the sooner the conflict in West Asia ends, “the better for everyone”.  India’s Russian oil imports soared to a nine-month high in March 2026, after the United States granted a temporary, 30-day waiver “allowing India” to buy oil and petroleum products from Moscow.