India's BRICS U-turn: Israel Named, Iran Silent — SkimNews
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- BRICS Delhi Declaration explicitly named Israel and demanded its withdrawal from Lebanese territory, made no mention of Iranian-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia or Red Sea shipping disruptions, and dropped the prior reference to Israel's 'right to defend itself.'
- PM Modi's February 2026 Israel visit — where he received a Knesset medal and called Israel the 'fatherland' of Indian-origin Jews — ended within 48 hours with Israel and the US launching aerial attacks on Iran; India subsequently refused to condemn the killing of 150+ schoolgirls, offered no condolences for Ayatollah Khamenei's assassination, and skipped his funeral.
- India's calibrated language called for ending 'unilateral economic sanctions, protectionist trade measures, and arbitrary tariffs' without naming the US, reflecting tensions with the Trump administration while avoiding direct confrontation.
- The declaration opposed forced Palestinian displacement, demanded unrestricted Gaza humanitarian aid, and referenced South Africa's ICJ case against Israel — positions aligning with Iranian diplomatic priorities.
- The Associated Press characterized a provision on 'deliberate attacks' on peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards as indirect criticism of US and Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian 'stole the show' from Modi at the summit, with his meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan producing no tangible diplomatic outcome.
Why it matters: India's pivot from Modi's Knesset-medal embrace of Israel in February 2026 to a BRICS declaration endorsing Iran's diplomatic priorities reveals New Delhi recalibrating after Iran demonstrated military success against US and Israeli strikes. The declaration named Israel explicitly while staying silent on Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi shipping — a reversal from India's prior defense of Israel's 'right to defend itself.'
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