India backs two-state solution for Palestine issue, says Jaishankar at BRICS meeting

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026, New Delhi), India formally reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution as the only durable reso...

What Happened

At the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting (May 14–15, 2026, New Delhi), India formally reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution as the only durable resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
India's External Affairs Minister underscored that "peace cannot be piecemeal" — signalling India's view that ceasefire efforts must address the broader political question of Palestinian statehood, not just immediate humanitarian concerns.
The remarks also highlighted the impact of the US-Israel war on Iran, specifically calling attention to risks the ongoing conflict poses to global shipping lanes and energy infrastructure, including the Strait of Hormuz.
The West Asia conflict cast a significant shadow over the two-day BRICS meeting — particularly given that Iran and UAE, opposing parties in the conflict, are both full BRICS members since 2024.
India's statement called for sustained ceasefire in Gaza and unimpeded humanitarian access to Palestinian civilians.

Static Topic Bridges

The Two-State Solution: Concept, History, and International Law

The "two-state solution" refers to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the creation of an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel, with borders broadly based on the 1967 pre-war lines (Green Line).

Legal basis: UN Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) — adopted after the Six-Day War — established the principle of "land for peace," requiring Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and recognition of each state's right to peaceful existence.
UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (1947) — the original UN Partition Plan for Palestine — proposed dividing the British Mandate of Palestine into separate Jewish and Arab states with Jerusalem under international administration. India abstained on this vote in 1947.
The Oslo Accords (1993) — signed on the White House lawn between PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin — established the Palestinian Authority and were the closest practical step towards a two-state arrangement, though they did not definitively create a Palestinian state.
As of 2026, approximately 146 UN member states formally recognise the State of Palestine.
In September 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted the "New York Declaration" endorsing the two-state solution, with 142 votes in favour; India voted in favour.

Connection to this news: India's reaffirmation at BRICS builds on this long-standing international legal framework and India's own voting record at the UN. Supporting the two-state solution aligns India with the Global South consensus while maintaining its position as a balanced actor in West Asia.

India's Historical Position on Palestine

India's engagement with the Palestinian cause dates to the independence era and has evolved through distinct phases.

India recognised the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Palestinian people in 1974 — becoming one of the first non-Arab states to do so.
India recognised the State of Palestine in 1988, immediately after the Palestinian Declaration of Independence at the 19th session of the Palestine National Council (Algiers, November 1988).
India established full diplomatic relations with Israel only in January 1992 — relatively late, constrained by its pro-Palestine solidarity commitments and dependence on Arab oil.
Post-1992: India moved to a "de-hyphenation" policy — treating its relationship with Israel and with the Arab/Palestinian world as independent tracks, not linked.
India's voting pattern at the UN on Palestine has generally been supportive of Palestinian rights, though India abstained on several resolutions between 2023 and 2024 before voting in favour of the September 2025 "New York Declaration."
India has contributed to UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) — the UN agency providing humanitarian support to Palestinian refugees.

Connection to this news: India's BRICS statement on the two-state solution is consistent with its decades-long diplomatic position, while the framing — linking maritime security and Palestinian statehood — reflects India's attempt to position itself as a principled multilateral actor during an active great-power conflict.

Impact of West Asia Conflict on Global Shipping and India's Economy

The EAM's explicit linkage between the Palestine issue, the Iran conflict, and shipping disruptions is significant for UPSC's GS Paper 3 angle on economic impacts of geopolitical events.

The Strait of Hormuz disruption (2026 crisis): estimated 20% of world LNG and 25–34% of seaborne crude oil passes through the strait.
Red Sea disruptions (beginning 2023, continuing through 2026 due to Houthi attacks): an estimated 12–15% of global trade and 30% of container ship traffic normally traverses the Red Sea–Suez Canal route. Rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope added approximately 3,500–4,000 nautical miles per voyage, sharply increasing freight costs and insurance premiums.
India's crude oil import bill is directly sensitive to both Hormuz and Red Sea disruptions, as both affect Indian imports from the Gulf and India's exports to Europe.
The combination of Hormuz blockade + Red Sea disruptions in 2026 created a dual chokepoint crisis with no easy alternative routing, pushing freight rates and energy prices upward globally.

Connection to this news: India's framing of Palestinian peace as inseparable from regional stability — and regional stability as inseparable from maritime security — is a sophisticated argument connecting humanitarian, political, and economic dimensions of the West Asia conflict.

Key Facts & Data

UNSC Resolution 242 (1967): established "land for peace" principle; basis for two-state solution framework.
UNGA Resolution 181 (1947): original UN Partition Plan; India abstained.
PLO recognised by India as sole representative of Palestinians: 1974.
State of Palestine recognised by India: 1988.
India established full diplomatic relations with Israel: January 1992.
Oslo Accords signed: September 13, 1993 (White House, Washington D.C.).
UN "New York Declaration" on two-state solution adopted September 2025: 142 votes in favour; India voted in favour.
Approximately 146 UN member states recognise the State of Palestine (as of 2026).
BRICS meeting venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, May 14–15, 2026.
India's BRICS Chairship 2026 theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability."