On 12 September 2026, the BRICS grouping adopted a New Delhi Declaration after Iran and the United Arab Emirates agreed to a compromise on the wording concerning the war in West Asia. The meeting, chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, brought together leaders from eight member states, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, while Brazil and the UAE sent high‑level representatives.
Modi said the 20‑year‑old bloc was “coming of age” and emphasized a distinct identity that is not anti‑Western. He called for consensus, a “troika” system similar to the G‑20, and a roadmap for global governance reform, a seafarer distress network and a BRICS global south mechanism for skill development.
After the session, Xi announced that China would take over the BRICS presidency for the coming year. The declaration called for comprehensive UN reform, protection of civilians, and expressed deep concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure in West Asia. It also criticised Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, supported a two‑state solution, and condemned the US blockade of Cuba and violence in Sudan.
Economically, BRICS pledged to increase intra‑group trade and payments in national currencies and condemned unilateral coercive measures such as US tariffs. The text reached consensus after months of discussions, with Iran seeking strong condemnation of the US and Israel, and the UAE demanding equal condemnation of Iran’s attacks. Modi will chair a BRICS Plus session on Sunday, inviting leaders from Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Vietnam and Kazakhstan.
