At BRICS Summit, Xi Jinping Takes Veiled Dig At US, Says Middle East War Serves No Common Interest

September 12, 2026

New Delhi: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday took a veiled dig at the United States and President Donald Trump over the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, saying the war is not serving any purpose or the common interests of the international community.

Xi made the remarks while addressing the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, which is being attended by several global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Xi Says Middle East War Causing Serious Losses

“As the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region continues to evolve, the war there has caused serious losses to people across the region,” Xi was quoted by state news agency Xinhua as saying.

“It does not serve the common interests of the international community,” he said.

In his message at the summit, Xi also called on BRICS members to oppose violations of sovereignty and work towards safeguarding peace globally.

The Chinese President, who is on a two-day visit to India, said no country should accept interference in its internal affairs and called for constructive participation in resolving hotspot issues.

Xi Calls For Rejection Of Protectionism

Xi also urged BRICS countries to oppose “protectionism” in all forms.

“We should support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core and reject all forms of protectionism,” he said, as cited by Xinhua.

His remarks come at a significant time in China-US relations, with Xi expected to visit Washington in around two weeks. China and the US have long been trade rivals, while Beijing has openly criticised Washington over its conflict with Tehran.

US-Iran Conflict And Strait Of Hormuz

The United States under President Donald Trump has justified its military action against Iran and maintained that Tehran should never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.

The Trump administration has also called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s total crude oil passes.

Iran, however, has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz falls under its control. Tehran has also defended its nuclear programme, saying it is intended only for civilian purposes, while warning the US against striking its nuclear facilities.

Against this backdrop, Xi’s remarks at the BRICS Summit are being seen as a criticism of the ongoing conflict and a call for dialogue, respect for sovereignty and a rules-based multilateral system.