"Diplomatic Powerhouses Araghchi and Lavrov Converge in Delhi for BRICS Summit"

BRICS Foreign Ministers to Convene in New Delhi for High-Stakes Talks

Foreign ministers from BRICS nations are set to gather for crucial discussions in New Delhi on May 14-15. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have confirmed their attendance, as reported by sources on Tuesday. However, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be notably absent from the meeting due to his involvement in high-stakes talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

China's Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, is expected to represent his country at the BRICS meeting, which comes at a time when the 11-member BRICS grouping is grappling with consensus on the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are part of the grouping but have not been able to reach a common stance on the conflict.

Delhi issued a Chair's summary on April 24 expressing deep concern over the recent conflict in the Middle East, as consensus within the grouping continues to remain elusive. The Indian Express had earlier reported that Tehran had reached out to Delhi to issue a statement on behalf of BRICS condemning US and Israeli strikes against Iran, a move that placed Delhi in a diplomatic quandary.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will host the meeting, where representatives from participating BRICS countries, including Araghchi and Lavrov, are expected to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before his upcoming visits to the UAE and European nations.

Araghchi's visit to India, his first since the conflict began, will focus on the situation in West Asia, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. India has been in talks with Iran regarding the evacuation of Indian nationals and the passage of Indian ships through the strait.

With the BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with other member nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia, discussions at the meeting are expected to encompass the challenges posed by Trump's disruptive policies on multilateralism and multipolarity in the international order.

India, as the rotational president of BRICS for 2026, faces the task of navigating diplomatic complexities, especially given the involvement of member nations like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran in the conflict. The upcoming summit of BRICS leaders later this year will provide a platform for further discussions on key global issues.

Amidst the turbulent diplomatic landscape, hosting the BRICS Foreign Ministers signifies a significant diplomatic endeavor for India, requiring adept navigation through the complexities of international relations.

Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express, brings over 25 years of journalistic experience to his role. With a focus on foreign affairs for more than 17 years, Roy has been instrumental in covering major global events and crises. His accolades include the Ramnath Goenka Journalism Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2016 and the IIMCAA Award for Journalist of the Year in 2022.

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