Brics’ inability to speak with one voice on the Middle East conflict has become a stern test of India’s leadership of the bloc, exposing the challenge of building consensus among its 10 members with divergent interests and concerns.

The bloc could not agree on a common position on the war at a meeting of Brics officials to discuss Middle East and North Africa issues in New Delhi last week.

Brics has long sought to present itself as a voice for the Global South as frustrations with the US-led world order continue to grow. But analysts say the bloc’s expansion has led to competing priorities, particularly given that members Iran and the United Arab Emirates are belligerents in the widening war, which began when the US and Israel attacked Tehran on February 28.

Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said during an interministerial briefing that Brics members could not reach an agreement on April 24 because of differences over the conflict in “West Asia”, a term commonly used in Indian diplomatic circles to refer to the Middle East.

In its capacity as the current Brics chair, India issued a less forceful document reflecting the outcome of talks among the bloc’s members without committing to a common stance, Jaiswal said.

Members “expressed deep concern” over recent developments in the Middle East, and discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Lebanon and post-conflict reconstruction in Syria, among other issues, according to the document.