India in ‘frank’ talks with Brics states over meeting declaration

India is engaged in “frank” conversations with all Brics member states to finalise a consensus declaration at the grouping’s summit in New Delhi next month, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday against the backdrop of differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the West Asia conflict.

The ongoing discussions have also focused on resolving the crisis in West Asia through dialogue and diplomacy and ensuring the unimpeded flow of maritime commerce, the people said.

India is set to host the 18th Brics Summit on September 12-13, with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to attend. This will be Xi’s first trip to India in seven years and he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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The discussions among the Brics states in preparatory meetings have focused on territorial integrity, free flow of maritime commerce, protection of civilians and civil infrastructure, and resolving the West Asia conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, the people said.

Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in severe energy supply disruptions. Iran and the UAE being on opposite sides of the conflict have hit discussions within the Brics grouping.

A Brics foreign ministers’ meeting in May concluded without a joint statement because of the differences between Iran and the UAE. Indian officials said earlier that the chair’s statement and outcome document issued by India after the foreign ministers’ meeting, which featured two specific paragraphs on which unanimity couldn’t be reached, could serve as the template for the declaration.

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India is engaged in “candid” discussions with Brics states to forge consensus on all important matters, the people said when responding to a question on whether the upcoming summit will produce a joint declaration.

The external affairs ministry said in a statement that India’s leadership of Brics chairship is guided by the theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting the vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the spirit of “humanity first”.