New Delhi Declaration was unanimously adopted by BRICS member leaders on 12th September 2026. The declaration emphasized strategic autonomy, balance between human development and the environment and restraint in the Middle East while addressing global economic challenges.
By Prof. N. Surjitkumar
BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. BRICS brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world (including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Indonesia) representing around 49.5 % of the global population, around 40%of the global GDP and around 26% of global trade. India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026 coincided with geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia which has disrupted global cooperation on connectivity, energy and trade. BRICS countries have common purpose in promoting inclusive growth and strengthening Global–South cooperation and it has expanded to include partners from Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. India’s Chairship of 18th BRICS Summit is guided by the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting the vision of “Humanity First”. The Summit also focused on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation and addressing key global and regional issues of mutual importance.
Modi urged BRICS leaders to draw up global governance reform proposals
Prime Minister Modi proposed mechanism to follow up on BRICS initiatives; called for development of a reform road map focused on representation in UN Security and transformation of the Global South into ‘rule-shapers’. Continuity in BRICS, reform beyond BRICS, shaping global rules are three main areas where the member countries of BRICS paid attention during the Summit in New Delhi. In the context of Continuity in BRICS, over the next 20 years, BRICS must work on a new and ambitious agenda. Towards this, PM Modi proposed a BRICS Continuity and Implementation Mechanism, which the BRICS Troika could use to follow up on all initiatives and outcomes. The need for jointly preparation of 10 proposals for global governance reform has been initiated so that member countries could develop into a BRICS Reform Road map by the next Summit. In this context, reform of the UN Security Council can no longer be delayed and given the priority area by the member countries of BRICS. Lastly for shaping global rules, it is important to ensure equal participation by the member countries of BRICS in determining the global rules of the future. “AI, cyberspace, outer space, biotechnology and critical technologies are not only creating future opportunities; they are also shaping the rules of the future. We must work to transform the Global South from rule-takers into rule-shapers.” (Modi, 2026).
New Delhi Declaration: Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability
New Delhi Declaration was unanimously adopted by BRICS member leaders on 12th September 2026. The declaration emphasized strategic autonomy, balance between human development and the environment and restraint in the Middle East while addressing global economic challenges. Some other major points include: Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism, International and Regional Peace and Security, Sustainable and Inclusive Global Economic Growth, Strengthening Cultural & People-to-People Cooperation. The member countries of BRICS commended the significant progress achieved under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026, under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, which reflects the shared commitment to strengthening BRICS cooperation in addressing common challenges with a balanced, practical, actionable, inclusive, development-oriented and people-centered approach. Another important declaration in the context of International and Regional Peace and Security is that member countries of BRICS agreed to explore avenues for cooperation on the prevention of armed conflicts, UN peacekeeping operations, AU peace support operations and peace processes.
The New Delhi Declaration also acknowledged the initiatives by the SME Working Group and commended India’s Chairship for convening the inaugural BRICS SME Forum in Agra and releasing a report titled “Advancing MSME Competitiveness in BRICS: Strengthening Access to Finance & Technology and Sustainable Growth”. The BRICS nations re-declared their “unwavering support” for reform of the WTO and for strengthening a “non-discriminatory, open, equitable, transparent, fair, inclusive, predictable and rules-based multilateral trading system”, with the WTO at its core. The declaration also went on to call for reforms of the World Bank, the United Nations (UN), the UN Security Council, and the IMF (Raghavan, 2026).
The member countries of BRICS reaffirmed the importance of BRICS people-to-people exchanges and initiatives in enhancing mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation amongst the nations and peoples. Finally, the member countries of BRICS agreed and full support to China for its 19th BRICS Summit in 2027 in China.
18th BRICS India Summit-Building Consensus and Global South Balancer
The 18th BRICS India Summit’s success could be measured by few parameters which include the participation of members at the highest levels, the importance given to intra-BRICS trade cooperation mechanisms, the consensus achieved by Indian negotiators in forging a joint statement in a time of war and India’s bilateral talks and ties with other BRICS nations at the sidelines of the Summit. BRICS Summit bridged the Iran-UAE divide and adopted New Delhi Declaration 2026. The Delhi Declaration called for the reform of the UN Security Council and supported for a greater role for Brazil and India for new global governance. The declaration also condemned western sanctions and tariffs and resolved to improve intra-BRICS trade and transact more in local currencies. India’s BRICS Chairship has given counterweight to its fame as a Global South balancer with easy access to both sides of a divided world. PM Modi’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi also afforded the two countries a chance to reaffirm their political will to normalize ties. Modi stressed the importance of peace and tranquility in the border areas, describing the matter as an essential basis for development of bilateral relations between India and China. Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with leaders from South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, ASEAN and other African nations paid much-needed attention to India’s ties with them. The BRICS India Summit will be remembered for a moment of solidarity among countries that have many differences. This simply means that the nations of BRICS will cooperate on global goals despite political, cultural or economic disagreements and India will act as the Global South balancer in a multipolar world in the years to come.
(Prof. N. Surjitkumar is Professor and Head, Department of Political Science & HR, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, MP & Former Visiting Scholar, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa)