Information
Iran has called on BRICS, currently chaired by India, to collectively condemn US-Israeli military strikes and take a more active role in restoring regional stability. India has responded cautiously, urging restraint and dialogue while stopping short of criticising the US or Israel. Analysts note that forging a unified BRICS position is unlikely, given that Gulf members such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are wary of Iran, have faced Iranian strikes themselves, and host US military bases. The bloc’s expanded membership has deepened these internal divisions, with experts describing BRICS as a loose economic grouping rather than a security alliance capable of coordinated action.
India’s position is further complicated by its dependence on Iranian energy routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, and its established strategic partnership with Israel. As BRICS chair, India has the authority to issue a statement on behalf of the bloc, but analysts say any such move would carry limited weight given current US and Israeli objectives. Some former Indian diplomats have suggested India could issue a chair statement expressing concern and calling for a pause in hostilities, and could even position itself as a peace facilitator alongside other neutral members. However, the broader consensus is that the crisis has once again exposed the geopolitical limits of BRICS, much as the war in Ukraine did before it.
Source: DW, Al Jazzera
So What
The conflict in Iran may inadvertently expose BRICS as a hollow grouping. While the bloc has touted itself as an economic counterweight, they lack the security needed for trade, as evidenced by disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, current BRICS members are targeting each other’s infrastructure, fostering mutual distrust that could undermine any meaningful consensus in the short to medium term.
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