BRICS leaders on Saturday adopted a joint declaration expressing “deep concern” over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and called for maximum restraint, dialogue and diplomacy to resolve international disputes.
The ‘New Delhi Declaration’, adopted on the first day of the BRICS leaders’ annual summit, comes amid renewed tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and Iran following a pause in fighting for much of August.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East and call for exercising maximum restraint and avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the declaration said.
The statement called for a multilateral approach to addressing international disputes while emphasising the need to respect the positions and concerns of individual countries.
BRICS leaders also reiterated their commitment to resolving international disputes peacefully through “dialogue, consultation, and diplomacy”.
The declaration was adopted by consensus despite differences among member states over the Middle East conflict. The grouping includes Iran as well as the United Arab Emirates, a close US partner.
The leaders also raised concerns over the increasing use of “unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures”, saying such measures can distort trade. The issue comes against the backdrop of US sanctions on Iran and Russia.
The BRICS grouping currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
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