By BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration as the 18th BRICS Summit came to a close on September 12.
The declaration urged restraint in the Middle East, covered AI cooperation, energy security and local-currency trade, but avoided directly condemning the US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s actions against Gulf states.
India’s mediating role secured a joint statement between the UAE and Iran, with talks reportedly continuing until 4 am on September 12.
PM Modi called the Declaration a reflection of a BRICS ‘wider in reach and stronger in purpose’, urging members to act on its commitments within a set timeframe.
Security was tightened significantly at the Bharat Mandapam venue for the summit’s final day, with thousands of personnel deployed across New Delhi.
One of the summit’s notable diplomatic achievements was India’s mediating role in securing a joint statement between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, with talks reportedly continuing until 4 am on September 12.
PM Modi described the Declaration’s outcome as reflecting a BRICS that is ‘wider in reach and stronger in purpose’, urging members to translate the outcomes into time-bound action.
Security was tightened significantly at the Bharat Mandapam venue for the summit’s final day, with thousands of personnel deployed across New Delhi.
The 18th BRICS Summit brought together leaders and senior delegations from member states including Russia, China, South Africa, Iran and several newer bloc entrants.
Major summit themes included artificial intelligence cooperation, energy security, and stronger representation for Global South nations in international institutions.
The declaration’s adoption came after member states worked through sharp differences on the West Asia conflict and other contentious geopolitical issues in the lead-up to the summit.
The New Delhi Declaration called for restraint in the Middle East but stopped short of condemning either the US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s targeting of Gulf countries in the region.
Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
