BRICS MENA Deputy Ministers Meeting Ends Without Joint Statement

India's Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra chaired the BRICS Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys meeting on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) on April 23–24 in New Delhi. The meeting ended without a joint statement, with a Chair's Summary issued instead. Delegates exchanged views on the Palestine situation and Gaza humanitarian crisis, UNRWA's role, the Lebanon ceasefire, attacks on UNIFIL peacekeepers, post-conflict reconstruction in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, and Sudan. Deep divisions emerged between members — particularly between UAE and Iran — over language on the West Asia conflict, and between India and most other members over how strongly to condemn Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon. India sought to soften pre-existing BRICS language on Israel that had been agreed at Kazan 2024 and Rio 2025 summits, while almost all other members opposed the amendments.