BRICS Summit in New Delhi: Bloc Agrees on Joint Declaration Amid Global Tensions

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BRICS Secures Consensus Declaration in New Delhi

The BRICS bloc reached an agreement on a joint declaration that avoids naming any specific nation but explicitly condemns unilateral war by any country, four sources told Reuters on September 12, 2026. The annual summit brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in New Delhi. Representatives engaged in intense diplomatic consultations to bridge a sharp divide between Iran and the UAE, who sit on opposite sides of the Gulf conflict, to finalize the text for approval by heads of state.

Host India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the summit by declaring that the bloc has come of age and must translate its unity into concrete results on the global stage. According to an Indian source with direct knowledge of the talks cited by Reuters, securing consensus presented a complex diplomatic challenge amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. Negotiators worked through contentious differences to build a unified stance against economically debilitating policies such as Western sanctions.

Navigating Middle East Divides and Global Power Imbalances

The diplomatic push to achieve consensus faced severe headwinds as the United States and Iran resumed tit-for-tat strikes in their six-month-old war following a temporary pause in August, alongside heightened Red Sea activity by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. Foreign policy experts noted that finding language acceptable to both Abu Dhabi and Tehran served as the primary test for the bloc’s unity. In May, BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi failed to issue a joint statement due to the friction between Iran and the UAE.

Pushing for Institutional Reform and Global South Representation

Beyond regional conflict, the bloc is pressing for broad reforms of international financial and governance institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization, which members argue are disproportionately dominated by Western powers. Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the Global South bears the brunt of international crises while remaining sidelined in decision-making forums.

While strengthening BRICS, we must also determine the direction of global reform, Modi stated during the summit, as reported by Reuters. The Global South is today in the front row when it comes to global crises, but in the back row when it comes to decision-making. We have to transform this pyramid and privilege into a platform of partnership — where every country has a voice, every member has a stake. Modi also renewed India’s call for the urgent expansion of the United Nations Security Council to grant permanent seats to emerging powers.

Leaders in attendance in New Delhi include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Xi Jinping, Iranian Masoud Pezeshkian, South African Cyril Ramaphosa, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Chinese President Xi Jinping told the summit that BRICS nations should stand firmly on the right side of history by steering the international order toward greater equity and justice.