As India gears up to host the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on May 14 and 15, diplomatic attention will be focussed on whether the group can arrive at a consensus and issue a joint statement on the ongoing conflict in West Asia.External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will chair the meeting, which will bring together foreign ministers and senior representatives from BRICS member and partner countries under India’s 2026 chairship of the bloc. The visiting delegations are also expected to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The meeting comes against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions and growing scrutiny over BRICS’ ability to project itself as a coherent voice of the Global South on major international crises.Diplomatic sources said discussions on West Asia are also expected during the deliberations, particularly amid differing strategic positions within the grouping. The issue assumes significance as the last round of BRICS deliberations had reportedly failed to produce a consensus outcome document because of differences among member countries over language relating to West Asia conflict.Asked on Tuesday whether the upcoming ministerial would see a joint statement or consensus, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said discussions were yet to take place and the government would keep the media informed as developments progressed.On participation by countries such as Iran and the UAE, Jaiswal said representation was for the respective governments to decide, adding that several foreign ministers were expected to begin arriving in New Delhi from Tuesday itself.Iran confirms Araghchi’s participationIranian officials have confirmed Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s participation in the BRICS meeting in New Delhi on May 14-15. He will also hold bilateral talks with EAM Jaishankar.China’s Foreign Minister to skip meetChina’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will likely skip BRICS Foreign Minister’s Meeting in New Delhi for ‘scheduling reasons’, media reports said on Tuesday.Iran’s Embassy in India has confirmed Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi’s participation in the BRICS meeting in New Delhi. “In addition to attending the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Foreign Minister will hold discussions and exchange views with Jaishankar as well as with other ministers and officials participating in the meeting,” Iranian officials said.According to the MEA, BRICS Foreign Ministers will exchange views on key global and regional issues of “mutual interest” during the two-day meeting.On the second day, BRICS member and partner countries will participate in a session themed ‘BRICS@20: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, followed by discussions on reforms of global governance and the multilateral system.The meeting is also expected to underline the evolving role of BRICS beyond economic cooperation, as the grouping increasingly positions itself as a platform advocating a multipolar world order. However, officials acknowledge that divergent geopolitical interests among members continue to pose challenges in articulating common positions on sensitive international issues.India – which assumed the BRICS chairmanship in January and is preparing to host the BRICS Summit later this year — has been engaged in consultations among member states, including at the Sherpa-level, to build broader convergence on key agenda items.The last BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2025, when India chaired the discussions in its capacity as incoming BRICS chair for 2026.