BRICS adopts New Delhi Declaration with consensus

A large screen in the media center shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 18th BRICS summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12, 2026 | Photo credit: PTI

In a major diplomatic breakthrough for India, the BRICS grouping on Saturday adopted a joint declaration with consensus, overcoming sharp differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the conflict in West Asia, following a series of back-channel talks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the declaration at the end of the opening session at the two-day summit hosted by India.

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Negotiations on the text of the declaration went to the end, as both Iran and the UAE initially hardened their positions. BRICS is a consensus-based grouping, meaning that any individual member can block a final joint statement.

PM Modi was seen shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the conclusion of the inaugural session at the summit.

“Today’s discussion shows that a changing world cannot be governed by outdated institutions; reforms are essential for representation, responsiveness and rule-making,” Modi said in his closing remarks.

“We also emphasized that the global South must have equal participation in the development of future technologies and the rules that govern them.” The Prime Minister said the gap between decisions and their results must be bridged through partnership and collective action.

“Today’s New Delhi Declaration provides clear direction for our shared resolve. It is now our responsibility to translate these resolutions into tangible results,” he said.

Published – 12 Sep 2026 15:24 IST