New Delhi, Sept 13: BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on the first day of the two-day summit in the Indian capital, seeking to strengthen cooperation on global challenges while navigating differences among member countries over conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
The 11-member grouping, which represents a significant share of the global economy and population, brought together leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Measured Position on Middle East Conflict
The declaration called for restraint and diplomatic efforts to address tensions in the Middle East. However, it stopped short of directly condemning the US-Israeli military action against Iran or Iran’s attacks targeting Gulf countries.
The cautious language reflected differences within the grouping and its effort to maintain consensus among members with varying geopolitical positions.
Tariff War Criticised Without Naming US
BRICS leaders also expressed opposition to unilateral tariff measures and protectionist trade practices, arguing that such steps undermine international trade rules.
However, the declaration did not directly name the United States, despite Washington’s extensive tariff measures affecting several BRICS economies. The approach allowed the bloc to express concern over trade restrictions while avoiding a direct confrontation with a major trading partner.
Modi Calls for Greater Global South Role
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BRICS had reached a significant stage in its evolution and called for the Global South to play a more active role in shaping international rules.
Modi stressed that developing nations should not merely adapt to decisions taken elsewhere but should have a meaningful role in determining the rules governing global affairs.
Balancing Unity and Differences
The summit highlighted both the growing importance of BRICS and the challenges involved in maintaining a common position among its expanded membership.
Differences over the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, as well as divergent economic and strategic interests, have made consensus more complex. Yet the adoption of the declaration demonstrated the members’ willingness to preserve cooperation on areas of shared interest.
The outcome underlined BRICS’ continuing focus on multilateralism, economic cooperation and greater representation for developing countries, while its cautious language on major geopolitical conflicts reflected the limits of consensus within the expanded grouping.
