NEW DELHI: BRICS member countries have reached an agreement on a Joint Statement following prolonged negotiations that continued into the early hours of the morning, marking a significant diplomatic achievement for the grouping amid sharp differences over several geopolitical issues.
The consensus was finalised after intensive consultations among member states, with negotiations reportedly continuing until around 4 AM as countries worked to reconcile divergent positions on contentious matters.
India Plays Key Role in Bridging Differences
India is understood to have played an important role in the negotiations, holding sustained discussions with participating countries to narrow differences and build common ground. The diplomatic effort helped prevent disagreements on sensitive issues from derailing the broader BRICS process.
The agreement assumes added significance because of the diverse geopolitical positions represented within the grouping. Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are all BRICS members, despite having distinct interests and differences on several regional and international matters.
Consensus Amid West Asia Tensions
The negotiations took place against a backdrop of continuing instability and heightened tensions in West Asia, making agreement on a common diplomatic position particularly challenging.
With member states holding differing views on conflicts and other strategic issues, reaching consensus required extensive negotiations and careful diplomatic balancing.
The successful conclusion of the talks is being viewed as an indication of the grouping’s ability to maintain dialogue and arrive at common positions despite significant differences among its members.
The BRICS Joint Statement is expected to be formally issued today and will set out the areas on which member countries have agreed following the marathon negotiations.