‘Talks till 4am’: How India got rivals Iran, Saudi Arabia & UAE to sign off on Brics joint statement | India News
In a major diplomatic breakthrough, India secured consensus on the Brics Joint Statement after intense negotiations. The consensus came after discussions continued until around 4am on Saturday.The breakthrough assumes particular significance as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, countries with deep differences and competing positions on several regional and geopolitical issues — are all part of the grouping. Against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and heightened tensions in West Asia, India led sustained consultations to bridge competing positions and ensure that the differences did not derail the joint statement.Government sources told TOI that the talks involved “differences on several contentious issues” and that India led sustained consultations to bridge competing positions and ensure that the disagreements did not derail the joint declaration.The diplomatic challenge was particularly significant given the presence of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the same grouping. The three West Asian countries have deep differences and competing strategic interests, while tensions across the region have remained high amid ongoing conflicts.Against this backdrop, India worked to reconcile the divergent positions and build a consensus that could be accepted by all members. The eventual agreement on the joint statement followed hours of negotiations and consultations, underscoring the complexity of the discussions.The breakthrough came as leaders gathered in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, with India seeking to use its presidency to strengthen cooperation among an increasingly diverse grouping.The successful negotiations also highlighted the challenge of managing a forum that now brings together countries with substantially different geopolitical positions. India’s effort to keep the BRICS process focused on areas of common ground helped prevent disagreements over contentious issues from blocking the joint statement.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi on Saturday to attend the summit, marking his first visit to India in seven years. He was received at the airport by Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada, with cultural artistes performing traditional dances to welcome him.“We look forward to constructive discussions as BRICS continues to advance cooperation and contribute to a more balanced, representative and multipolar world,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media.
