Chinese President Xi Jinping, who joined Russian, Iranian, Indian and other leaders at a BRICS summit in New Delhi, told the gathering that the Middle East war “does not serve the common interests of the international community.”
The summit’s foreign ministers had failed to agree on a joint statement when they met in New Delhi in May, with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates divided over the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28. But following intense diplomatic efforts by host India, leaders issued a joint statement on Saturday.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia,” the statement said, calling on parties to exercise “maximum restraint” and avoid actions that could further aggravate the situation.
BRICS was created in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions dominated by Western powers. Opening the two-day summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Xi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders: “We have to transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership.”
Modi said BRICS nations represent 50 percent of the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP and more than 25 percent of global trade.
Balancing the bloc’s competing interests remains difficult. India maintains cordial relations with both Iran and US ally Israel while carefully managing its ties with Washington. Pezeshkian attended the summit shortly after warning that the Middle East does not need the United States as a “regional policeman,” with tensions threatening the Strait of Hormuz. He also met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the summit sidelines.
India has managed the energy crisis caused by the US-Iran war partly by turning to Russia, despite Moscow’s war in Ukraine and Western pressure. Modi embraced Putin before talks on Friday; Putin last visited India in December 2025 and remains one of New Delhi’s most important strategic partners.
