BRICS fractured: Silence over Iran strikes as India pivots toward West

Nearly a week after the commencement of the US-Israeli military operations against Iran, BRICS—the multinational alliance that includes Tehran among its members—has failed to issue an official collective position. According to Al Jazeera, analysts note that this prolonged silence is highly unusual for the bloc, which only last year was quick to condemn similar escalations as "violations of international law."

India and conflicting interests

Since December 2025, with India holding the bloc's presidency, its national priorities appear to have taken precedence over the collective strategic goals of BRICS. New Delhi has increasingly signaled a shift toward deeper alignment with Israel and the United States.

Reactions from individual member states

While the bloc remains silent, three of the five founding partners of BRICS have issued independent statements supporting Iran: South Africa (Cyril Ramaphosa) condemned the attacks and called for an immediate ceasefire, offering to act as a mediator. Russia (Vladimir Putin & Sergey Lavrov) condemned the strikes and the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that the conflict could trigger regional nuclear proliferation. China (Wang Yi) stated that the US-Israeli military strikes are undesirable, emphasizing the paramount importance of diplomacy and negotiation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also criticized the joint US-Israeli operations and the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei—killed in strikes last Saturday—in a formal letter to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. While Moscow and Tehran maintain robust ties, with Russia supplying Iran with advanced military hardware, Moscow has shown no current intention of intervening militarily to support Iran.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated there is no evidence that Tehran is developing nuclear weapons—a primary concern for the US and Israel. He warned that the war could lead to the exact outcome the allies claim to prevent: the spread of nuclear arms across the Middle East. As bombs fell on Iran last Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the US and Israel of "premeditated and unprovoked acts of armed aggression against a sovereign UN member state."

The stance of India

India stands alone as the only member that has not explicitly condemned the attacks. The Modi government called for an "immediate end to the conflict" and reiterated the priority of dialogue and diplomacy, notably without mentioning Iran by name.

Narendra Modi conducted an official visit to Israel on February 25-26, 2026, just days before the attacks began. During the visit, he stated that India stands "firmly with Israel," signed agreements in defense and artificial intelligence, and elevated the relationship to a "Special Strategic Partnership." The timing of this visit has sparked intense criticism regarding a potential "tacit approval" of the subsequent strikes. Critics, particularly from the opposition Indian National Congress, slammed Modi for the lack of a clear condemnation regarding the US-Israeli strikes and the assassination of Ali Khamenei.

India moves closer to Israel

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel on February 25 and 26, 2026, included a high-profile meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Addressing the Knesset, Modi declared that "India stands by Israel, firmly and with full conviction, in this moment and beyond." This statement came at a time when Israel faced mounting international scrutiny over its military campaigns.

Modi and Netanyahu signed several trade agreements focusing on defense and AI, sectors where the two nations have collaborated for years. Notably, approximately 40% of Israel's arms exports are destined for India. In a post on the platform X, Modi noted that the two countries have upgraded their "time-tested partnership to a Special Strategic Partnership."

During this same period, the threat of US-Israeli strikes against Iran was already looming. A former Indian diplomat told The Diplomat that Modi may have had prior knowledge of the operations. The Indian government has not responded to this allegation. Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to India Reuven Azar told The Indian Express that the opportunity for the joint strikes arose "only after Prime Minister Modi had departed."

US relations and BRICS implications

India continues to pursue "strategic autonomy," though tensions emerged under the Trump administration due to India's purchase of Russian oil. However, following negotiations, tariffs were reduced and New Delhi demonstrated improved relations with the US, reinforcing its strong connection to both Washington and Israel.

A rift within BRICS

BRICS is exhibiting clear internal fractures due to the diverse strategic interests of its members. While China advocates for mediation over military intervention, India opts for a "balanced stance" with an emphasis on de-escalation rather than condemnation.

Observers point out that this division highlights the difficulty of reaching a consensus to maintain bloc cohesion. The silence of BRICS under the Indian presidency and the diverging paths of its members suggest the alliance faces a significant challenge in maintaining unity against international security crises, despite China's emphasis on the collective voice of the Global South.

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