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The BRICS summit in New Delhi has brought together leaders from some of the
world’s most influential emerging economies at a time of major geopolitical and
economic uncertainty. Despite significant differences among its members over
conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the group reached consensus on a joint
declaration during the first day of the two-day meeting.
The New Delhi Declaration focused on international security, global trade,
economic cooperation, Palestine, sanctions, and the future of global governance.
However, the wording of the declaration was carefully designed to avoid directly
naming countries involved in some of the most sensitive disputes.
The outcome highlights both the growing influence of BRICS and the challenges the
expanded bloc faces when its members have conflicting strategic interests.
BRICS Leaders Reach Agreement in New Delhi
Leaders of the 11-member BRICS group unanimously approved a joint statement
during the summit in the Indian capital. The agreement came despite
disagreements surrounding the conflict involving Iran, the Gulf region, and the
continuing Russia-Ukraine war.
The declaration urged countries to exercise restraint in the Middle East and avoid
actions that could further increase regional tensions. At the same time, it stopped
short of directly condemning the US-Israeli strikes or Iran’s attacks on Gulf
countries.
The BRICS statement also raised concerns about the growing use of tariffs and
other trade restrictions around the world. However, the United States was not
specifically identified in the declaration.
This diplomatic approach reflected the complicated economic relationships
between BRICS members and other major global economies.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the meeting as an important
moment in the development of BRICS. He argued that countries in the Global
South should become more active in shaping international rules instead of simply
following decisions made by established global powers.
What Is BRICS and Why Does It Matter?
BRICS began in 2006 as BRIC, bringing together Brazil, Russia, India and China.
South Africa joined several years later, giving the organization its current BRICS
name.
The group has expanded significantly since then. Its members now include Egypt,
Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, alongside the
original countries.
Together, BRICS nations represent almost half of the global population and account
for roughly 40 percent of worldwide gross domestic product.
That economic and demographic weight has made BRICS an increasingly important
part of discussions about the future of the international financial system.
The bloc has repeatedly called for greater representation for developing countries
in institutions traditionally dominated by Western economies. It has also
supported reforms involving organizations such as the International Monetary
Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.
However, India has emphasized that BRICS should not simply be viewed as an anti-
Western alliance.
Modi stressed that the organization is not designed to oppose particular countries.
Instead, he argued that developing economies should have a stronger voice in
decisions affecting the global economy and international governance.
Middle East Conflict Tests BRICS Unity
One of the biggest challenges facing the New Delhi summit was the conflict
involving Iran and the wider Middle East.
The issue exposed major differences within the expanded BRICS membership. Iran
is a member of the organization, while the United Arab Emirates is also part of
BRICS and has faced Iranian attacks during the conflict.
The New Delhi Declaration expressed serious concern about the continued
escalation of tensions across the Middle East. Leaders called for maximum
restraint and urged all parties to avoid steps that could make the situation worse.
However, the declaration did not specifically identify the United States, Israel, Iran
or the Gulf states.
This represented a more cautious approach than the statement released at the
previous BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, which had used much stronger language
regarding the conflict.
Chinese President Xi Jinping separately argued that the war did not serve the
interests of the international community. He called for a political solution and a
lasting, comprehensive ceasefire.
The ability of BRICS leaders to agree on a declaration was therefore viewed as a
diplomatic achievement, particularly because of the opposing positions held by
Iran and the UAE.
Former Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao described the agreement as
a significant diplomatic success for New Delhi.
The carefully generalized language allowed members to preserve consensus while
avoiding direct accusations against individual countries.
This approach demonstrates an important characteristic of BRICS: the organization
can bring countries with very different foreign-policy priorities to the same
negotiating table, but reaching agreement on specific actions can be considerably
more difficult.
Concerns Over Nuclear Facilities and Civilian Infrastructure
The New Delhi Declaration also expressed concern about deliberate attacks against
civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities operating under International
Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
Although the statement did not explicitly identify the countries responsible, the
wording could be interpreted as an indirect criticism of attacks against Iranian
nuclear facilities.
During the 12-day conflict in 2025, the United States bombed three major Iranian
nuclear facilities located at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow.
The issue added another layer of complexity to the BRICS discussions, as members
attempted to balance principles concerning international law, national security
and their individual diplomatic relationships.
Analysts had expected the summit to produce only a limited result because of the
continuing geopolitical tensions affecting the organization.
Nevertheless, India's ability to use its relationships with different BRICS members
helped the group reach a common declaration.
Russia-Ukraine War Remains a Major Challenge
The Russia-Ukraine war continues to be another sensitive issue for BRICS.
Russia is one of the founding members of the organization, making the conflict
particularly difficult for the bloc to address collectively.
Instead of directly mentioning Ukraine, the New Delhi Declaration called for
international disputes to be resolved through dialogue, consultation and
diplomacy.
The statement also criticized unilateral sanctions that have not been authorized by
the United Nations Security Council.
BRICS leaders argued that such measures undermine international law and the
principles established by the UN Charter.
The position is particularly important for Russia, which has faced extensive
Western economic sanctions since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
India, meanwhile, has maintained strong relations with Moscow and has continued
economic cooperation with Russia, including energy trade.
The conflict has also affected global energy markets and international supply
chains, making economic stability another important issue for BRICS members.
According to Russia's Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Xi Jinping and Narendra
Modi offered to assist with efforts toward peace negotiations concerning Ukraine,
while Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed their willingness to help.
BRICS Strengthens Support for Palestine
Unlike its cautious language on Iran and Ukraine, BRICS adopted considerably
stronger wording regarding Palestine.
The declaration expressed firm opposition to the forced displacement of
Palestinians and to attempts to alter the geography or demographic character of
occupied Palestinian territory.
BRICS also called for an end to the war in Gaza and emphasized the importance of
unrestricted humanitarian assistance.
The organization reaffirmed support for UNRWA, the United Nations agency
assisting Palestinian refugees, and backed full UN membership for Palestine.
BRICS leaders also reiterated their support for a two-state solution and the
creation of a sovereign Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East
Jerusalem as its capital.
The position demonstrates that Palestine remains an issue where the expanded
bloc was able to adopt significantly more explicit collective language.
It also reflects the broader BRICS emphasis on international law, sovereignty and
the role of developing countries in global affairs.
US Tariffs and Global Trade Tensions
International trade was another major subject at the New Delhi summit.
The declaration expressed concern about unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures
that can distort international commerce. BRICS members also opposed sanctions
that are imposed without authorization from the UN Security Council.
Several BRICS economies have faced trade restrictions or tariff pressure from
Washington, including China, Russia and India.
US President Donald Trump has previously criticized BRICS and described the
organization as a challenge to American interests. He has also threatened
additional tariffs against countries that align themselves with the bloc.
At the summit, Vladimir Putin criticized the use of tariffs, sanctions and economic
pressure as tools for restricting emerging competitors.
The trade debate is particularly important because BRICS countries play a major
role in global supply chains, energy markets and international commerce.
The bloc called for greater cooperation to protect global trade, supply networks,
energy supplies and maritime security.
With geopolitical conflicts already disrupting transportation and energy markets,
these issues could have significant consequences for businesses, consumers and
investors around the world.
A Push Toward a Multipolar World
One of the central themes of the BRICS summit was the organization's support for a
multipolar world order.
The declaration reaffirmed BRICS' commitment to multilateralism and greater
global representation for emerging and developing economies.
The group argued that a more multipolar international system could create
additional opportunities for countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for stronger representation for Asia, Africa
and Latin America within the UN Security Council.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said BRICS members should contribute to creating a
more equitable international order.
Modi similarly called on the Global South to move from being a passive rule-taker
to becoming a rule-shaper.
His message reflects the broader ambition behind BRICS expansion: increasing the
influence of emerging economies in decisions concerning international finance,
trade, security and global governance.
What the New Delhi Summit Means for the Global Economy
The BRICS summit in New Delhi comes at a period when the global economy is
facing several interconnected challenges.
Trade disputes, economic sanctions, energy disruptions, geopolitical conflicts and
changes in international alliances are placing pressure on governments and
businesses.
For investors and global companies, the growing role of BRICS is particularly
important because its members control significant portions of the world's
population, natural resources, manufacturing capacity and consumer markets.
The bloc's expansion also means that its internal differences are becoming more
significant.
BRICS is no longer a small group of four or five countries with relatively similar
strategic priorities. Its expanded membership includes nations with different
political systems, economic interests and foreign-policy relationships.
That diversity gives the organization greater global reach, but it can also make
consensus more difficult.
The New Delhi Declaration demonstrates this balance clearly. BRICS was able to
agree on broad principles concerning international law, trade, Palestine,
multilateralism and global governance, while using cautious language on conflicts
where members have competing interests.
The Future of BRICS
The New Delhi summit could become an important milestone in the evolution of
BRICS as an international economic and diplomatic bloc.
Its members are increasingly seeking a larger role in global decision-making and
greater influence for developing economies.
At the same time, the organization must find ways to manage disagreements
among its members if it wants to transform its growing economic weight into
coordinated political and financial influence.
For now, the summit shows that BRICS can maintain dialogue even when its
members disagree on some of the world's most sensitive geopolitical issues.
The New Delhi Declaration may not provide direct solutions to the conflicts in Iran
or Ukraine, but it demonstrates that the bloc remains committed to multilateral
cooperation and a broader role for the Global South.
As global trade, energy security, international finance and geopolitical alliances
continue to change, BRICS is likely to remain an important force to watch.
The key question is no longer simply whether BRICS can expand. It is whether its
increasingly diverse members can turn their combined economic power into a
more coordinated influence over the future of the global order.
