The Congress on Monday said the BRICS+ meeting in New Delhi ending without a joint statement reflected divisions over the Israel-Palestine conflict, with the party alleging that India’s position on the Gaza war and West Asia crisis contributed to the lack of consensus.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the April 23-24 BRICS+ meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys failed to produce a joint statement not only due to expected differences between Iran and the UAE, but also because of India’s stand on Israel and Palestine.
He said India pushed for dilution of language on the Israel-Palestine issue, which, according to him, was not accepted by several BRICS+ countries, including Russia, China, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, the UAE and Iran.
The BRICS+ meeting in New Delhi comes at a time when the Gaza war, Israel-Palestine conflict and the wider West Asia crisis are at the centre of global diplomatic discussions. The absence of a joint statement is being seen as a significant outcome, as such multilateral meetings typically conclude with a common position on key international issues.
Ramesh said India’s stance on Israel stood out among major global powers, alleging continued support for Israel even amid the ongoing Gaza crisis, bombardment in southern Lebanon and tensions in the occupied West Bank. He also questioned the government’s approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The Congress leader further claimed that India’s position was not in line with the broader sentiment within BRICS+ nations on the Gaza war and Palestine issue, which has drawn increasing international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
”The Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Israel are clearly soulmates, with Israel also now being an important part of the vast predatory Modani empire,” he added.
The BRICS+ meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers and Special Envoys held in New Delhi on April 23-24 2026 ended without a joint statement. Iran and UAE are both part of the 11-member BRICS+ and their divergent positions on the war in West Asia are only to be expected. But what is…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 27, 2026
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