Photo courtesy of Egypt's ministry of foreign affairs
Speaking at an expanded session of the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, the top Egyptian diplomat warned that regional instability was affecting global maritime security and supply chains.
His remarks came amid growing concerns over restrictions on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil transit chokepoint, with fears mounting that the conflict could disrupt maritime traffic and energy supplies.
Abdelatty reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of all forms of aggression targeting Arab states and said Cairo would continue its efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.
On Gaza, the minister condemned Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories and called for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian, relief and medical aid to the strip to alleviate the suffering of its population.
He also urged the creation of conditions for reconstruction and a just settlement of the Palestinian question.
The BRICS meeting in New Delhi brought together foreign ministers of member states and partner countries to coordinate positions on international and regional issues.
Formed in 2006 as BRIC, the group consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, holding its first summit in 2009. South Africa joined in 2010, forming BRICS.
In 2023, BRICS expanded its membership to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, and in 2025, Indonesia officially joined the group.
According to the World Bank, BRICS represents more than 40 percent of the world’s population, 24 percent of global GDP, and over 16 percent of world trade.
During today's meeting, Abdelatty called for stronger multilateral cooperation to address growing geopolitical tensions and economic challenges.
He said the current phase required deeper coordination among BRICS members and partner nations, with a focus on joint projects in renewable energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and innovation.
The minister praised India's presidency of the bloc, commending its focus on economic resilience, innovation and sustainable development, which he said reflected a direct response to challenges facing the global economy.
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