Countries with sharply divergent strategic interests came together under India’s BRICS chairship on Saturday to adopt a 45- page, 140-paragraph joint declaration, covering some of the most contentious issues confronting the international system, including the war in Gaza, the use of force, unilateral sanctions, global trade, terrorism and reform of the United Nations Security Council. The New Delhi Declaration, adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit, also contains an explicit endorsement by China and Russia of the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the United Nations, including the Security Council. The document calls for greater representation of developing countries in the UN and says Security Council reform should better reflect contemporary global realities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had described BRICS as being at its “coming of age” moment as the grouping marked 20 years of its existence. But the New Delhi summit has also emerged as something of an Indian coming-of-age moment on the global stage, with New Delhi demonstrating its ability to bring together countries with significant strategic differences and create enough diplomatic space for them to agree on a common document addressing some of the most difficult questions in international affairs. The breadth of the consensus is significant given the differences among the members of the expanded BRICS. India and China have their own unresolved strategic differences, while Iran and the UAE have sharply divergent interests and positions on the conflicts and security architecture of West Asia. Russia remains at odds with the Western powers over Ukraine, while BRICS members have varying relationships with the United States and Europe. Yet, the grouping agreed to put its name to a single document that addresses several of these contested questions.
DIPLOMATIC TRUST IN INDIA
Diplomatic trust in India has been an important element in creating the space for such a consensus. It is no mean feat to bring countries with divergent interests, and in some cases sharply opposing positions on major geopolitical questions, to the same table and have them sign the same document. A significant part of the political effort behind the consensus also rests with PM Modi, whose sustained engagement and personal rapport with leaders across the grouping, including Chinese President Xi Jinping despite the differences that have emerged between India and China in recent years, helped maintain channels of engagement at the highest level. The declaration itself records the scale of India’s chairship, noting that more than 400 meetings and engagements involving ministers, parliamentarians, heads of agencies, officials, experts, businesses and people were held in 30 cities across India. The leaders said these engagements contributed to strengthening the BRICS strategic partnership. The outcome also assumes significance because BRICS foreign ministers had failed to produce a joint statement earlier this year amid differences. The leaders, however, have now produced a single declaration covering political, security, economic, financial, technological, climate and development issues.
PAHALGAM MENTIONED
For India, one of the most consequential elements is the declaration’s reference to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which 26 people were killed and many more injured. BRICS leaders condemned the attack in the strongest terms and reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens. They called for zero tolerance for terrorism, rejected double standards in counter-terrorism and said those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice. The reference is particularly significant because there had been speculation before the summit that China could resist language that might anger Pakistan. Instead, the final document contains an explicit reference to the 22 April 2025 J&K attack and follows it with language on cross-border terrorism, financing and safe havens. The declaration also calls for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the UN framework and for concerted action against UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities. It also calls for greater cooperation to counter extremism and radicalisation, particularly among younger generations.
GEOPOLITICAL DISPUTES
The document goes beyond terrorism and takes positions on a series of major geopolitical disputes. On the Middle East, BRICS expressed deep concern over the continuing escalation in West Asia and called for maximum restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and greater reliance on dialogue and diplomacy. It also stressed the need to maintain the flow of global trade, supply chains and energy. On Gaza, the leaders called for maintenance of the ceasefire and full and unhindered humanitarian access. They opposed policies aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, including the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable Palestinian state within the internationally recognised 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. BRICS also reaffirmed support for Palestine’s full membership of the United Nations. The declaration also expresses concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, stressing that nuclear safeguards, safety and security must be upheld even during armed conflicts. On the use of force and international conflicts, the declaration places emphasis on dialogue, consultation, diplomacy, preventive diplomacy and mediation. It also looks at greater BRICS cooperation in conflict prevention, UN peacekeeping, African Union peace-support operations and mediation and peace processes.
NEEDED: PREDICTABLE GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM
The economic language is equally pointed. BRICS expressed serious concern over unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules. The declaration seeks a more resilient and predictable global trading system and greater participation by developing countries and emerging markets in higher-value segments of global manufacturing and production. It also calls for stronger and more resilient global value chains, technology transfer and greater access to markets. The declaration condemns unilateral coercive measures, including unilateral economic and secondary sanctions, which it says are contrary to international law and the UN Charter. It calls for their elimination and reaffirms opposition to sanctions that are not authorised by the UN Security Council. Although the declaration does not name the United States in this provision, the language directly addresses the wider use of unilateral tariffs and sanctions that has become a major point of friction in the global economic order. BRICS also wants to deepen the use of local currencies and improve cross-border payment systems. The BRICS Payment Task Force has been examining interoperability between payment and messaging channels and settlements using local currencies. The leaders called for practical solutions that make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, more accessible, efficient, transparent and secure. The grouping also backed the New Development Bank as a central BRICS institution for financing development and infrastructure in emerging markets and developing economies. It encouraged the NDB to expand its resource mobilisation capacity, local-currency financing and support for sustainable development, infrastructure investment, economic integration and inequality reduction. The declaration also supports further expansion of NDB membership. A new BRICS Multilateral Guarantees initiative is also being advanced to help mobilise private capital, improve creditworthiness and reduce financing costs for development projects in BRICS and the Global South. The Indian chairship’s BRICS Task Force on Growth and Development was also welcomed as a platform for discussing development models, development finance reform, digital transformation, AI and climate finance. The declaration further addresses the problems facing small and medium enterprises, global value chains and industrialisation. BRICS supports easier access to trade finance for MSMEs and has welcomed work towards an invoice discounting mechanism to help such companies unlock working capital and participate more fully in international trade. It also supports cooperation on special economic zones, trade facilitation and digitisation of trade documentation.
DIGITAL AGENDA
On artificial intelligence, the leaders recognised its potential to drive economic growth and sustainable development but called for international cooperation to make AI safe, secure, inclusive and reliable. They backed greater accessibility to AI resources, AI science and innovation, energy efficiency in AI systems and measures to mitigate risks, particularly for countries of the Global South. The declaration also welcomed India’s AI Impact Summit held in February 2026. The digital agenda extends to digital public infrastructure, universal connectivity and digital safety. BRICS welcomed work on universal and resilient digital connectivity and called for greater protection of children, senior citizens and vulnerable people in the digital environment.
CLIMATE, ENERGY, FOOD, ETC.
Climate change is another substantial part of the declaration. BRICS reaffirmed support for the Paris Agreement, including mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage, and called for developed countries to provide adequate and predictable finance, technology and capacity-building to developing countries. The leaders also raised concerns over high debt burdens restricting climate and development investment and opposed unilateral protectionist climate measures such as carbon border adjustment mechanisms. On energy, BRICS stressed energy security, stable energy markets, diversified sources and resilient energy supply chains. The declaration recognises that fossil fuels will continue to play an important role, particularly for emerging markets and developing economies, while calling for just, orderly, equitable and inclusive energy transitions. It also identifies renewable energy, nuclear power, hydrogen, hydropower, bioenergy and energy storage as part of a diversified energy mix and highlights cooperation on hydrogen and critical minerals. Food security and agriculture also receive a significant focus. BRICS countries, as major food producers, agreed on the importance of improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, addressing food-price volatility and supply disruptions, including fertiliser shortages. The declaration backs continued work on a BRICS Grain Exchange and cooperation on agricultural products, food reserves, drought-resilient seeds and sustainable farming. It also welcomes a farmer-centric BRICS network on agro-inputs, genetic resources and information and networks on agroecology and digital agriculture. Health cooperation includes strengthening health infrastructure, local production of medical products, disease surveillance, laboratory networks, digital health and AI, pandemic preparedness, medical research and equitable access to vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. The leaders also backed cooperation in traditional and complementary medicine and nuclear medicine. The declaration also takes up nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and arms control, reiterating the need to reduce nuclear risks and strengthen international mechanisms dealing with weapons of mass destruction and nuclear security.
POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The political significance of the document, however, extends beyond individual paragraphs. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told the BRICS leaders at the opening session that the grouping had reached its “coming of age” moment after 20 years and needed to convert its unity and consensus into concrete results. He proposed a BRICS Continuity and Implementation Mechanism through the Troika, a secure digital repository for decisions and implementation status, and a 10-point BRICS Reform Roadmap on global governance. PM Modi said the roadmap should focus on three areas: Representation, Responsiveness and Rule-making. On representation, he called for reform of the United Nations Security Council and greater alignment of voting power, leadership positions and policy priorities in international financial institutions with current economic realities. Under the Responsiveness pillar, he proposed a Seafarers Emergency Support Network, linking the maritime authorities and missions of relevant countries to provide assistance to seafarers in distress. The proposed network would facilitate distress alerts, medical assistance, information to families and evacuation support. On rule-making, the PM said the Global South must move from being a ruletaker to a rule-shaper, particularly in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, outer space, biotechnology and critical technologies. He proposed that BRICS provide young diplomats and policymakers from the Global South with negotiation skills, practical training and legal expertise. He also described the existing global governance structure as a “pyramid of privilege”, with power and decision-making concentrated at the top, while the Global South remained at the “front row” of global crises but the “back row” of decision-making. The declaration reflects that agenda. It calls for a more just, equitable, effective, responsive and representative international system and says the current architecture of international relations must better reflect contemporary realities. It reiterates the importance of multilateralism and multipolarity and the central role of the United Nations. The declaration also identifies the Global South as a driver of positive change and says BRICS will continue to voice its concerns and priorities while promoting a more just, sustainable, inclusive and representative international order. For India, the most politically significant formulation remains the reference to the Security Council. The declaration calls for greater representation of developing countries and specifically records that China and Russia, as permanent members of the Security Council, support the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the United Nations, including the Security Council.
REFORMS NEEDED
The document also places emphasis on reform of international financial institutions and on giving emerging markets and developing countries a greater voice in global economic decisionmaking. The declaration addresses illicit financial flows, terrorism financing, money laundering, financial fraud, organised scam networks and the misuse of virtual assets. BRICS countries agreed on greater cooperation among financial intelligence units, law-enforcement agencies, customs and tax authorities and on stronger digital financial security, including efforts to prevent fraud in cross-border payment systems. The leaders also backed stronger cooperation against corruption, including asset recovery and cooperation among law-enforcement authorities. Transport and connectivity receive attention through cooperation on sustainable and resilient transport infrastructure, civil aviation, logistics and supply chains. India’s chairship also saw initiatives on sustainable aviation fuels, urban mobility, transport decarbonisation and a proposed BRICS Railway Research Network. The declaration also addresses environmental protection, including water availability, drought, desertification, land degradation, wildfires, forests, mangroves, waste management and resource efficiency. BRICS supports cooperation on ecosystem restoration, sustainable lifestyles and climate-resilient development. Alongside these major areas, the declaration records cooperation across health, agriculture, education, culture, tourism, youth, women’s participation, business, academic exchanges, civil society, people-to-people contacts and other sectoral areas, reflecting the attempt to make BRICS cooperation broader than government-togovernment diplomacy. The institutional changes proposed by India were also reflected in the final document. BRICS welcomed its expansion and described the grouping as an increasingly influential and credible platform for inclusive global governance. It called for outcome-oriented coordination, continuity and long-term institutional development and welcomed progress towards the BRICS Online Archival Database. The declaration concludes by commending India’s BRICS chairship and thanking the Indian government and people for hosting the summit. It extends full support to China for its BRICS chairship in 2027.
A MEASURE OF INDIA’S DIPLOMATIC WEIGHT
The larger significance of the New Delhi summit lies in the fact that India was able to bring an increasingly diverse grouping to a common document without requiring its members to erase their individual differences. The joint declaration does not mean that China and India have resolved their bilateral differences, or that Iran and the UAE have arrived at a common strategic position on West Asia. Nor does it eliminate the differing positions of BRICS members on the Ukraine conflict, the United States or the wider international order. What it demonstrates is something more consequential for India’s position in the world: New Delhi has increasingly become a country capable of creating diplomatic space among competing powers and converting that space into a negotiated consensus. That consensus now covers issues that are politically difficult for the members themselves, from Gaza and Palestine to sanctions and the use of force, from terrorism and the J&K attack to UN reform and India’s own aspiration for a greater role in the Security Council. In that sense, the New Delhi Declaration is not merely a record of what the BRICS countries agreed to say. It is also a measure of the diplomatic weight India has acquired within a grouping that represents a substantial share of the world’s population, economy and strategic power. The declaration, therefore, captures a significant shift in India’s global role: from being a participant seeking greater representation in the international system to becoming a country increasingly capable of shaping the consensus of a major grouping of emerging powers.
