3 days ago
Iran-UAE Rift Clouds BRICS Summit as India Seeks Consensus
India is hosting a meeting of the BRICS group on September 12 and 13.
The group has 11 members, but they do not agree on the conflict in West Asia.
Iran and the United Arab Emirates have especially different positions.
The UAE announced an indefinite trade embargo on Iran after accusing Iranian forces of firing missiles at its territory.
Iran denied this and called the accusation a false flag operation.
Two earlier BRICS ministerial meetings could not agree on a joint statement.
India is asking diplomats, known as Sherpas, to help members find wording everyone can accept.
The summit will also discuss trade, finance, technology and cooperation.
India hopes the meeting ends with a shared communique despite the disagreements.
India is working to secure a common BRICS communique at its September 12-13 summit in New Delhi.
The West Asia conflict has deepened differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier BRICS Foreign Ministers’ and Trade Ministers’ meetings ended without joint communiques over disputed language.
India is using Sherpa-level consultations to narrow differences while allowing members to state their national positions.
The summit will address trade, investment, finance, technology, development, payments and reform of global institutions.
- Who
- India, as BRICS chair, and the bloc’s 11 member countries, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
- What
- India is trying to build consensus on a joint summit communique despite disagreements over the West Asia conflict.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- When
- The summit is scheduled for September 12-13, 2026; the article was published August 30, 2026.
- Why
- Differences over the West Asia conflict and other contentious issues prevented earlier BRICS ministerial meetings from issuing joint communiques.
India’s Consensus-Building Approach
Members’ Divergent National Positions
Joint communique
India’s Consensus-Building Approach
India wants to find formulations acceptable to all members so geopolitical disagreements do not derail the summit’s broader agenda.
Members’ Divergent National Positions
Members have insisted on their own positions, and disputes over specific language previously blocked joint communiques.
West Asia conflict
India’s Consensus-Building Approach
India is maintaining dialogue and giving every member an opportunity to express its views while seeking areas of agreement.
Members’ Divergent National Positions
Iran and the UAE hold sharply different positions; the UAE accused Iranian forces of firing missiles, while Iran denied the allegation and called it a false flag operation.
Summit priorities
India’s Consensus-Building Approach
India is seeking agreement on economic cooperation, cross-border payments and a greater Global South voice in global institutions.
Members’ Divergent National Positions
Contentious geopolitical issues may continue to affect consensus on the wider agenda, as they did at earlier ministerial meetings.
Key facts
- Summit dates
- September 12-13, 2026
- Host city
- New Delhi
- BRICS membership
- The grouping expanded to 11 members over the past two years.
- Main diplomatic channel
- India is relying heavily on Sherpa-level consultations.
- Earlier outcomes
- The Foreign Ministers’ and Trade Ministers’ meetings issued Chair’s statements and outcome documents instead of joint communiques.
- UAE action
- The UAE announced an indefinite trade embargo on Iran on August 19.
- Summit agenda
- Trade, investment, finance, technology, development, cross-border payments and reform of multilateral institutions.
Quotes
A senior Indian official
Indian official discussing preparations for the BRICS summit
“Sherpas are expected to continue intensive consultations in the coming weeks on the draft summit declaration, with India seeking to ensure that the summit ends with a common joint communique — an important indicator of the grouping’s ability to maintain unity despite its expanding membership and increasingly divergent national positions.”
thehindubusinessline.com
“BRICS is a consensus-based framework. Whatever discussions we have, on whatever issues, we aim to build consensus through dialogue. As Chair, India’s effort has been to maintain dialogue, engagement and discussion among all members on every issue and topic.”
thehindubusinessline.com
Sources
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