UN chief calls for two-state solution between Israel and Palestine
Speaking at the BRICS summit in Brazil, Guterres said peace also requires an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, the unconditional release of captives, unimpeded humanitarian access, and an end to violence and occupation of the West Bank.
He also voiced concern over the growing weaponisation of artificial intelligence, warning that 'peace is more urgent than ever' and calling for a global governance framework rooted in justice and human rights.
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The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Brazilian President urges Brics nations to lead on climate fight ahead of Cop30
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called on fellow Brics nations to usher in a new era of climate and health justice ahead of Cop30, which his country will host in Belem in November. In a speech on the final day of the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Lula highlighted the urgency of global action to address inequality, climate change, and public health, and warned that the most vulnerable nations risk paying the highest price for inaction. He criticised wealthy nations and global markets for failing to deliver on promises made at last year's Cop29 in Azerbaijan to pledge at least $300 billion a year to address the impact of climate change. 'Developing countries are likely to be the most impacted by losses and damages from climate change,' Lula told Brics leaders. He said the challenge now is not just to reduce emissions but to 'build a new cycle of prosperity' that leaves no one behind. Eighty per cent of global carbon emissions, he said, are generated by fewer than 60 companies, most of them in oil and gas. 'The planet cannot afford another decade of delay,' he warned. With Cop30 on the horizon, Lula framed Brazil's presidency as a pivotal opportunity to 'place life at the centre of development.' His remarks were welcomed by environmental groups including Greenpeace, which urged Brics nations to 'step up as champions for climate justice and nature protection'. The founding Brics nations were Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The UAE was invited to join an expanded bloc in August 2023 along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia and Ethiopia. The UAE joined Brics in January 2024. UAE Consensus to lead the way Lula said the UAE Consensus should be the basis for sustaining implementation actions. The agreement, made at Cop28 in Dubai, calls for 'transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner … so as to achieve net zero by 2050, in keeping with the science'. A delegation from the UAE also took part in the annual two day meeting of the board of governors of the New Development Bank of the Brics group, the state news agency Wam reported. The UAE's membership of the Brics group is part of its commitment to dialogue and multilateral co-operation to promote peace, security and development through networks that represent emerging economies on the world stage.
Gulf Today
8 hours ago
- Gulf Today
BRICS nations slam Trump tariffs, condemn strikes on Iran
BRICS leaders at a summit on Sunday took aim at US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs and recent Israeli-US strikes on Iran. The 11 emerging nations -- including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- account for about half the world's population and 40 per cent of global economic output. The bloc is divided about much, but found common cause when it comes to the mercurial US leader and his stop-start tariff wars -- even if it avoided naming him directly. Voicing "serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff" measures, BRICS members said the tariffs risked hurting the global economy, according to a summit joint statement. Trump fired back at the bloc directly on social media Sunday night. "Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Russia's President Vladimir Putin appears on a screen as he attends the opening meeting of BRICS Summit remotely with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. Reuters Earlier, BRICS also offered symbolic backing to fellow member Iran, condemning a series of military strikes on nuclear and other targets carried out by Israel and the United States. In April, Trump threatened allies and rivals alike with a slew of punitive duties, before offering a months-long reprieve in the face of a fierce market sell-off. Trump has warned he will impose unilateral levies on partners unless they reach "deals" by August 1. In an apparent concession to US allies such as Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia, the summit declaration did not criticize the United States or its president by name at any point. No show Conceived two decades ago as a forum for fast-growing economies, the BRICS have come to be seen as a Chinese-driven counterbalance to US and western European power. But as the group has expanded to include Iran, Saudi Arabia and others, it has struggled to reach meaningful consensus on issues from the Gaza war to challenging US global dominance. BRICS nations, for example, collectively called for a peaceful two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict -- despite Tehran's long-standing position that Israel should be destroyed. An Iranian diplomatic source said his government's "reservations" had been conveyed to Brazilian hosts. Still, Iran -- a BRICS member since 2023 -- stopped short of rejecting the statement outright. The bloc also called for an "immediate" ceasefire and the "full withdrawal of Israeli forces" from the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been at war with the Palestinian group Hamas for 21 months. Hamas's armed wing welcomed BRICS's position, calling on them to "exert pressure" on Israel to "lift the criminal siege imposed on two and a quarter million people." In perhaps a further sign of the diplomatic sensitivities, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister skipped Sunday's discussions entirely, according to a Brazilian government source. World leaders partake in the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday. AP Saudi Arabia is among the world's leading beneficiaries of high-tech US military exports and is a long-standing US partner. The political punch of this year's summit has been depleted by the absence of China's Xi Jinping, who skipped the meeting for the first time in his 12 years as president. The Chinese leader is not the only notable absentee. Russian President Vladimir Putin, charged with war crimes in Ukraine, also opted to stay away, participating via video link. He told counterparts that BRICS had become a key player in global governance. The summit also called for regulation governing artificial intelligence and said the technology could not be the preserve of only rich nations. The commercial AI sector is currently dominated by US tech giants, although China and other nations have rapidly developing capacity. Agence France-Presse
Middle East Eye
8 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Turkey's Brics membership hopes are dashed for now
Foreign investors were intrigued when Turkey, last year, applied to become the first Nato country to join the Brics economic bloc. Despite President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's years of public statements hinting that Ankara was considering joining Brics, few believed Turkey would actually take concrete steps toward membership. Brics - an acronym of its original members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - is seen by some commentators as poised to dominate the global economy in the coming decades. Often viewed as an alternative to the G7, which is led primarily by western nations, Brics represents a significant shift in global power dynamics, and until now, has not included any Nato members. One year after Ankara's application, Turkey's prospects for full Brics membership have lost momentum and are likely dead for the foreseeable future. There were no encouraging signs from the start. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for example, said last June that Brics was not interested in further expansion after adding five new nations in 2024: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Instead, Lavrov said Turkey would be offered a special status called "partner country", along with 13 others. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Turkish officials, even those with reservations about Brics, were not receptive to the idea of partner status, as it reminded them of Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Nato or Shanghai Cooperation Organisation? Turkey's Erdogan goes for both Read More » Several EU leaders in the past tried to persuade Turkey to accept a "special partnership" with Brussels instead of full EU membership. Ankara has yet to announce its decision regarding the Brics proposal. Erdogan skipped the Brics summit in Brazil last weekend, sending Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in his place. While 10 other countries, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Cuba, joined as partner countries, Turkey kept its silence on the issue. One side issue could also be US President Donald Trump assuming his second term in January. Last month, Trump made it clear he has no love for Brics and said he would impose 100 percent tariffs if the group attempted to create a new Brics currency. On Monday, he said the US would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on any countries aligning themselves with the "anti-American policies" of the Brics. Those statements likely concerned Turkish officials who want to maintain the good rapport between Erdogan and Trump. Adding insult to injury, Indonesia was admitted as a full Brics member in January, despite Lavrov's earlier statements that expansion to integrate new members would be paused. The Brics secretariat explained that Indonesia's membership was decided in 2023 but was delayed until after its presidential election last year, so it was not a new decision. Although no Turkish officials would say so publicly, sources familiar with the issue told Middle East Eye that China and India had reservations about Turkey's membership last year, effectively blocking Ankara's path to full Brics membership. "Turkey is Nato," a Brazilian diplomat told MEE in December. "Several countries have concerns about how that would work with the bloc." The diplomat said India was the chief opponent of Turkey's participation. Tensions with India In September, a western diplomat told MEE that Turkey may have been making soft moves to address India's concerns over the Kashmir issue. The diplomat noted that Erdogan did not comment on Kashmir during the UN General Assembly meetings in September, unlike in previous years. An Indian diplomat, however, told MEE that Erdogan's silence was not a meaningful gesture, as Turkey had signed an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation report in August that assessed the situation in Indian-controlled Kashmir. 'Turkey is Nato. Several countries have concerns about how that would work with the bloc' - Brazilian diplomat In its official statements, India did not directly comment on Turkey's membership but reminded the public that Brics admits new members only by unanimous decision. Matters deteriorated further this year. The issue came to a complete standstill after the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir was reignited by an attack in April that killed 27 Indian tourists. As India blamed Pakistan and launched a military response, Turkey soon found itself drawn into the conflict. Indian media, citing sources, repeatedly accused Ankara of supplying drones, weapons, and ammunition to Pakistan during the latest wave of conflict. Some reports even alleged that two Turkish military operatives were killed by Indian forces during Operation Sindoor, and that Turkey provided Pakistan with over 350 drones. "Turkish advisors helped Pakistani army officials coordinate drone attacks in India after Operation Sindoor," they claimed. Following the US-brokered ceasefire in May, Indian politicians began campaigns against Turkey for its supposed military aid to Pakistan. First, Indian authorities withheld security clearance for Celebi Airport Services India, a unit of Turkey's Celebi that operates ground handling services at nine Indian airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. Why Turkey wants to join Brics Read More » Then, IndiGo Airlines announced it would terminate its leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines by 31 August after pressure from India's aviation regulator. As Indian citizens launched boycotts against Turkey, including tourism, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson said the airline would look for alternative maintenance and repair providers to replace Turkish Technic. In June, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Cyprus and met with President Nikos Christodoulides, a move widely seen as a signal to Turkey that New Delhi was deepening ties with countries that have disputes with Ankara. In another sign of India's shifting stance, the Indian military linked Turkey to Pakistan during the latest escalation over Kashmir, dashing any hopes that India might support Ankara's bid to join Brics. India's Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh said on Friday that Turkey was a component of Pakistan's strategy against India. "Turkey also played an important role by providing the type of support it did; they supplied Bayraktar and numerous other drones," he said.
