NEW DELHI — BRICS member countries have reached agreement on a joint declaration that is expected to condemn unilateral military action by any country, while avoiding directly naming states involved in the ongoing Gulf conflict, four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters on Saturday.
The agreement comes as leaders of the BRICS group gather in New Delhi for their annual summit, where the bloc is seeking to overcome differences among its members and present a unified position on major international issues.
The declaration is not expected to single out any country. Instead, diplomats have reportedly worked on language that condemns unilateral war while allowing the diverse group of nations to maintain consensus.
The discussions have been particularly challenging because of differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which are on opposing sides of the Gulf conflict. Representatives from the two countries, along with other BRICS members, have been involved in negotiations aimed at bridging those differences.
The BRICS grouping currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
The leaders are expected to formally approve the joint declaration on Saturday, according to the sources.
The agreement would underline BRICS’ broader effort to strengthen cooperation among its members despite significant differences in foreign policy and their relationships with major global powers.
The final wording of the declaration could provide an indication of how far the expanded BRICS grouping can maintain a common diplomatic position on conflicts that directly involve its own members.