Questions About BRICS’ Global Role
Araweelo News Network – Associated Online Agencies
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Pretoria (ANN)- The ongoing war involving Iran and the alliance of the United States and Israel has exposed sharp political divisions inside the BRICS bloc, raising questions about the group’s unity and global influence.
The conflict, which escalated following a series of military strikes widely referred to in some reports as “Operation Epic Fury,” has pushed BRICS members into opposing positions despite the organization’s goal of presenting a united alternative to Western-dominated institutions.
BRICS now includes ten members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Russia and China Condemn Strikes
Several BRICS members strongly criticized the military campaign against Iran. Both Vladimir Putin and Chinese officials warned that the escalating conflict could destabilize the entire Middle East and disrupt global trade routes.
Russia and China called for an immediate de-escalation and urged diplomatic dialogue to prevent the war from expanding across the region.
Meanwhile, Brazil and South Africa also expressed concern, emphasizing the need for restraint and peaceful negotiations.
Gulf States and India Take Different Position
However, other BRICS members adopted a noticeably different stance.
India—which holds the BRICS chairmanship in 2026—has largely avoided direct criticism of Washington or Tel Aviv.
At the same time, Gulf members Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates focused their criticism on Iran’s missile strikes and regional military activities rather than condemning the initial attacks on Iran.
Egypt and Ethiopia have mainly urged diplomacy and restraint without clearly siding with any party in the conflict.
Allegations of Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy
Some political analysts have suggested that Mohammed bin Salman may have played a behind-the-scenes diplomatic role before the outbreak of hostilities.
Reports circulating in several international media outlets claim that the Saudi Crown Prince held multiple conversations with former U.S. President Donald Trump before the escalation. However, there is currently no confirmed public evidence that Saudi Arabia directly encouraged the military campaign against Iran.
No Unified BRICS Statement
Because of these differing positions, BRICS has so far failed to issue a unified statement on the war.
The divisions highlight the growing geopolitical complexity inside the organization, which includes states with competing strategic alliances and regional interests.
Questions About BRICS’ Global Role
The crisis has revived a broader debate among analysts: whether BRICS can ever function as a cohesive geopolitical bloc comparable to the Western military alliance NATO.
While BRICS aims to challenge Western dominance in global institutions, the current conflict shows that its members still pursue very different national interests.
For many observers, the Iran war has become a major test of whether BRICS can evolve into a coordinated global force—or remain primarily an economic and diplomatic forum with limited political unity.
By Arraale M Jama Freelance Journalist and Human Rights
activist.
Araweelo News Network
Associated Online Agencies