BRICS leaders are expected to endorse a joint declaration on Saturday after member states reached an agreement on the broad language of the document, according to four sources familiar with the discussions.
The declaration is not expected to single out any country by name. Instead, it is likely to include a general condemnation of unilateral military action by any country, a formulation that could allow the increasingly diverse bloc to present a united position despite sharp differences among some of its members.
The agreement comes as BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi for their annual summit, with diplomacy around the Gulf conflict emerging as one of the most sensitive issues in negotiations over the final statement.
Member states have been working to bridge differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, which have found themselves on opposing sides of the conflict in the Gulf. Reaching language acceptable to both countries has been a key challenge in producing a consensus declaration.
The leaders are expected to formally approve the declaration on Saturday, the sources said.
The negotiations highlight the increasingly complex nature of BRICS as the group expands its membership and attempts to maintain a common diplomatic voice on major international issues.
The bloc now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, bringing together countries with different strategic interests, foreign-policy priorities and relationships with the major global powers.
The decision to avoid naming individual countries in the declaration could provide the compromise needed to maintain unity. By condemning unilateral military action in general terms, BRICS members can signal opposition to the use of force without forcing individual members to endorse language directly targeting another country.
For Iran and the UAE, whose positions differ over the Gulf conflict, that distinction could be particularly important.
The negotiations also reflect the broader challenge facing BRICS as it seeks to expand its influence in global affairs. While the group has increasingly presented itself as a platform for cooperation among emerging and developing economies, its members do not always share the same views on wars, security disputes or relations with the West.
A consensus declaration would therefore carry significance beyond the specific wording of its condemnation of unilateral war.
It would demonstrate that the expanded bloc can still reach common ground on contentious international issues despite the divergent interests of its members.
The final text, however, remains subject to formal approval by the leaders gathered in New Delhi.
If endorsed, the declaration would provide the summit with a carefully negotiated diplomatic position — one designed to emphasise opposition to unilateral military action while avoiding language that could deepen divisions within the bloc.