The BRICS countries, including Russia, China, India, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, called in a joint statement on the sidelines of their summit in New Delhi on Saturday for “the utmost levels of restraint” in the war in the Middle East.
The statement said: “We express deep concern about the continued escalation of tensions in the Middle East/West Asia. Recalling our specific national positions, we call for the exercise of the utmost restraint, as well as the avoidance of actions that would exacerbate the situation.”
In May, the foreign ministers of the BRICS group did not agree on a joint statement following their meeting in New Delhi, in light of the existing difference in positions regarding the war that broke out with American-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, to which Tehran responded by paralyzing navigation in the strategic Strait of Hormuz and targeting American interests in the region.
However, India, the host of the summit, made unremitting efforts to bring views closer.
In their statement, the BRICS countries condemned the attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities.
She said in the statement: “We express deep concern about the deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities covered by full safeguards from the International Atomic Energy Agency, in violation of international law and relevant agency decisions.”
She stressed the need to comply with “nuclear safeguards and safety and security standards, including during armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment.”
The BRICS Forum was established in 2009 to bring together the major emerging economies, Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and South Africa quickly joined it, outside the framework of blocs dominated by the United States and Western powers, such as the G7.
The New Delhi summit opened on Saturday, in the presence of the presidents of China, Russia, Iran, and Egypt in particular, in addition to high-level participation from the other countries of the group.
Within the framework of the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping considered that the war in the Middle East does not serve “the common interests of the international community,” according to what was reported by the New China News Agency (Xinhua).
The joint statement said: “We note the current global context of polarization and mistrust and encourage measures that enhance global peace and security.”
The statement added: “We stress the need to work together to maintain the smooth flows of global trade, supply chains and energy in line with applicable global laws.”
Seoul announced that North Korea launched several ballistic missiles on Saturday, following the conclusion of South Korea's five-day joint military exercises with the United States and Japan.
Last month, Pyongyang denounced the “Freedom Edge” maneuvers being conducted in international waters off South Korea, considering them a threat to it and other countries in the region.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that Seoul detected on Saturday “the launch of several short-range ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area towards the East Sea,” also known as the Sea of Japan.
She added that the intelligence services of South Korea and the United States “exchanged information about it from the first stage of the launch, and also shared information related to... the missile with Japan.”
In August, Pyongyang launched a group of missiles towards the sea, a few hours after US President Donald Trump announced his intention to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this year.
The launch coincided with South Korea and the United States holding a reduced version of their annual military exercises, “Ulchi Freedom Shield,” following an order from Trump to reduce them.
Trump's decision to reduce the maneuvers worried US allies in the region, especially since he described them as "inappropriate and hostile" towards North Korea.
But South Korean intelligence services told Parliament earlier this month that a summit between the United States and North Korea appeared possible “at any time,” with signs of dialogue emerging between them.
Trump met with Kim three times during his first term, in summits aimed at reaching a denuclearization agreement, but no tangible progress was made.
