BRICS Leaders Press for Inclusive Growth as Summit Turns to West Asia Tensions
BRICS leaders in New Delhi push for inclusive growth and voice deep concern over West Asia tensions, with Iran and UAE taking part.
Leaders gathered in New Delhi for the second day of the BRICS Summit turned their attention to avenues for inclusive growth, with the talks unfolding against a backdrop of tariffs, trade frictions and a fragmenting geopolitical landscape.
The meeting comes as India and China have moved to stabilise a relationship strained since the 2020 border standoff. Beyond bilateral ties, the agenda has been shaped by a cluster of global pressures: the conflict in West Asia and the risk it poses to oil trade, the war in Ukraine, US tariffs and broader geopolitical fragmentation.
Among the notable features of the gathering was the participation of Iran and the UAE, a region where American military bases have been targeted by Tehran's strikes during the ongoing conflict. Iran's President Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the summit.
In a joint declaration released on Saturday, the BRICS leaders voiced deep concern over the escalation of tensions across West Asia. They called for maximum restraint and for disputes to be settled through dialogue and diplomacy.