At BRICS, Egypt urges freedom of navigation, peaceful solutions in Middle East

NEW DELHI – 14 May 2026: Egypt on Thursday stressed the need for preserving freedom of navigation and pursuing peaceful solutions to conflicts in the Middle East during a meeting for the BRICS and partner countries in New Delhi.

In his remarks at the meeting, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty noted escalating tensions in the Middle East and their negative repercussions on security, stability, international navigation and global supply chains.

Abdelatty called for upholding the principles of international law and preserving freedom of international navigation and reaffirmed that dialogue and peaceful means are the only path to achieving security and stability.

He highlighted Egypt’s continued diplomatic contacts and intensive efforts to de-escalate tensions and contain unrest in the region.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister stressed Egypt’s rejection of attacks targeting Arab states, reiterating Egypt’s support for the sovereignty and stability of Arab nations.

Boosting Multilateral Action

Abdelatty also emphasized the importance of strengthening multilateral action amid mounting pressures on the international system caused by geopolitical tensions, economic challenges, climate change repercussions and rapid technological transformations.

He called for deeper cooperation among BRICS countries and partner states through the exchange of expertise and by building on each country’s comparative advantages.

 

This collaboration aims to support joint projects in priority sectors, including renewable energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and innovation, he added.

Abdelatty said the participation of partner countries enriches discussions and contributes to exchanging views on issues of common interest.

He also commended the Indian BRICS chairmanship’s focus on supporting economic resilience, promoting innovation, expanding cooperation, and advancing sustainable development efforts.

These priorities, the minister emphasized, reflect a direct response to the current challenges facing the global economy and the international system.

BRICS is an intergovernmental bloc of major emerging economies and developing countries, originally founded by Brazil, China, India and Russia, and later expanded to include seven additional members to date, including Egypt.

Partner countries include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

The meeting comes amid economic challenges facing the global community due to the war in Iran and Middle East escalation, which have sent energy prices soaring, stalled global navigation and disrupted supply chains.

Foreign ministers or their representatives from BRICS countries opened a two-day meeting in New Delhi amid ongoing global tensions and subsequent economic challenges. Read more about the meeting.

Settling Palestinian Cause

During his speech, the Egyptian foreign minister condemned Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Abdelatty stressed the need to ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian, relief and medical aid into Gaza, while paving the way for early recovery and reconstruction efforts,

He affirmed that these efforts should lead ultimately to a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian cause.