37 mins ago
India Bridges Iran-UAE Divide to Secure BRICS Declaration
India was leading an important BRICS meeting.
The countries needed to agree on one shared statement.
Iran and the United Arab Emirates disagreed about how to describe recent attacks and conflicts.
The UAE wanted Iran named, while Iran wanted the United States and Israel mentioned.
Indian officials worked between the two countries to find wording both could accept.
They used ideas from an earlier Shanghai Cooperation Organisation statement.
The final document did not name the United States and included language about Israel withdrawing from Lebanon.
Officials said the long, 45-page document required negotiations until the last minute.
India secured a BRICS joint declaration on the summit’s first day after behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The United Arab Emirates wanted Iran named over attacks on Gulf territory, while Iran sought mention of United States-Israeli attacks.
Indian diplomats used draft alternatives and language drawn partly from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation statement.
The final declaration avoided naming the United States and called for Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.
Officials said negotiations continued until the last minute on the 45-page declaration.
- Who
- India, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and other BRICS members were involved, with Indian officials leading negotiations.
- What
- India secured agreement on a joint BRICS declaration despite disagreements between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
- Where
- The negotiations took place around the BRICS Summit, with Indian officials shuttling between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
- When
- The declaration was secured on the first day of the BRICS Summit, on Saturday; officials said drafting continued until the last minute.
- Why
- India sought language that addressed members’ concerns while protecting its own interests and preserving agreement on the declaration.
Iran’s Position
United Arab Emirates’ Position
How the conflict should be described
Iran’s Position
Iran wanted the declaration to mention United States-Israeli attacks.
United Arab Emirates’ Position
The United Arab Emirates wanted Iran named over attacks on Gulf territory.
Diplomatic compromise
Iran’s Position
Iran accepted wording that did not directly name the United States, while seeking language addressing Israel and regional conflict.
United Arab Emirates’ Position
The UAE accepted a formulation that avoided directly naming Iran, allowing the joint declaration to proceed.
Key facts
- Document
- BRICS joint declaration
- Length
- 45 pages
- Key disagreement
- The UAE wanted Iran named over attacks on Gulf territory; Iran wanted United States-Israeli attacks mentioned.
- Drafting model
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation statement in Bishkek helped provide a structure.
- Final language
- The United States was not named, and Israel was asked to withdraw from Lebanon.
- India’s role
- As BRICS chair, India worked to reconcile members’ positions.
- Drafting process
- Officials said 90% to 95% of draft text is usually agreed before the foreign-ministerial level.
Quotes
A senior diplomat
Indian diplomat explaining how avoiding country names helped secure agreement
“What typically happens is that the Foreign Ministry sets up ‘drafting groups’, which means that various bodies are responsible. The West Asia team would have been involved in drafting the language on Palestine, while economic elements of the draft would have been under the Economic Ministry, with inputs from the Commerce Ministry”
freepressjournal.in
“India’s G20 Declaration in 2023 went through because Russia and China were not named, while the BRICS Foreign Ministerial meeting collapsed because both Iran and the UAE wanted to name names.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Related news
India Secures Unanimous BRICS Declaration After Overnight Diplomacy
BRICS Reaches New Delhi Consensus Despite Iran-UAE Divisions
Modi Urges Time-Bound Action on New BRICS Declaration
Iran-UAE Rift Clouds BRICS Summit as India Seeks Consensus
BRICS Reaches Reported Consensus After India-Led Talks Until 4 AM
How Iran and UAE Reached BRICS War Consensus
Asian Markets Fall as Oil Surge Fuels Rate Hike Fears
Houthi Advance on Marib Raises Saudi Escalation Fears
How U.S. Forces Rescued an Injured Pilot From Iran
