India steers BRICS from May deadlock to unanimous New Delhi Declaration
NEWZA Editorial Team•
⚡ Key Financial Takeaways
May 2024 Delhi foreign‑minister talks stalled as Iran and the UAE clashed over the West Asia conflict and another member objected to Gaza language.
India, holding the BRICS chair for 2026, organised more than 350 meetings across 22 ministerial tracks to find “landing zones” for all members.
On 12 September, all ten BRICS leaders adopted a 140‑paragraph New Delhi Declaration, with Iran and the UAE backing the text.
The declaration avoids naming specific conflicts or countries, instead calling for restraint, civilian protection and multilateral dialogue.
Beyond geopolitics, the document outlines 50+ practical projects in digital agriculture, health, finance, energy and urban development.
💡 Why It Matters
The New Delhi Declaration shows that BRICS, despite divergent views on hot‑button issues such as the West Asia conflict and sanctions, can still forge a collective stance when guided by a proactive chair. India's diplomatic orchestration not only preserved the bloc’s unity but also produced a concrete agenda covering trade, technology and sustainability, signalling a more coordinated front in global governance and economic cooperation.
For member economies, the declaration offers a platform to advance shared projects without being hamstrung by political disagreements, potentially reshaping trade flows and investment patterns among emerging markets.
Background: A stalled May meeting In May 2024, BRICS foreign ministers gathered in New Delhi but left without a joint statement. The deadlock centred on two issues: Iran demanded a condemnation of what it called U.S.–Israeli attacks and accused the United Arab Emirates of military involvement, while the UAE rejected those allegations. A separate member also raised concerns about wording on Gaza. India, the 2026 BRICS chair, issued a chair’s statement that simply noted the differing positions.
Building consensus India’s Ministry of External Affairs later disclosed that the summit was preceded by eight months of intensive engagement – more than 350 meetings involving sherpas, foreign ministers and senior officials, plus work across 22 ministerial tracks covering political, economic and people‑to‑people cooperation. MEA Secretary for Economic Relations Sudhakar Dalela explained that India provided a forum for each country to voice its national stance before negotiators searched for “comfort areas” and “landing zones”.
The September breakthrough On 12 September, all ten BRICS leaders unanimously adopted a 140‑paragraph New Delhi Declaration, with both Iran and the UAE endorsing the final text. The agreement reflects a “common denominator” approach: members did not have to share identical views, only to agree on principles none could reject. Paragraph 28, for example, expresses concern over the escalation in West Asia, calls for maximum restraint and civilian protection, and links regional stability to uninterrupted trade, energy flows and maritime security – all without assigning blame.
Managing geopolitical sensitivities The declaration’s language mirrors the diplomatic tightrope walked in Delhi. It refrains from naming Ukraine, the United States or any specific leader when addressing sanctions, tariffs or armed conflicts. Instead, it calls for multilateral solutions, respect for sovereignty and adherence to WTO‑compatible trade rules. The terrorism section carries forward the bloc’s condemnation of the 22 April 2025 Jammu‑Kashmir attack, while the UN Security Council reform paragraph repeats the stance first articulated in the 2025 Rio Declaration, supporting greater roles for India and Brazil.
A broader cooperation agenda Geopolitical wording accounts for only a fraction of the document. India highlighted more than 50 concrete outcomes spanning digital agriculture, health research, startup ecosystems, digital public infrastructure, trade finance, clean energy and urban development. These initiatives are designed to be implementable by every BRICS member, irrespective of their foreign‑policy differences.
Side‑track diplomacy On the summit’s sidelines, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – the highest‑level dialogue between the two nations since the West Asia conflict began. The UAE described the talks as covering de‑escalation and regional peace, though no joint statement emerged.
Looking ahead India’s chairmanship has demonstrated that BRICS can move from a fragmented foreign‑minister stance to a unified leader‑level declaration by emphasizing shared interests and preserving national positions on contentious issues. The real test will be how the announced cooperation projects translate into on‑the‑ground actions and whether the bloc can maintain this consensus on future geopolitical challenges.
🏛️ Background & Context
BRICS, the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded to ten members with the inclusion of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and others. India assumed the chair for 2026, inheriting a bloc that has struggled to align on foreign‑policy matters. The May 2024 deadlock highlighted these challenges, while the September consensus demonstrates how the chair can use extensive multilevel consultations to bridge gaps.
The declaration also builds on earlier BRICS documents, such as the 2025 Rio Declaration on UN Security Council reform and the 2025 condemnation of the Jammu‑Kashmir terrorist attack, showing continuity in the bloc’s core positions.
👁️ What To Watch Next
• Implementation of the 50+ cooperation initiatives announced in the declaration, especially in digital agriculture and clean energy.
• Follow‑up meetings among BRICS leaders to assess progress on the New Delhi agenda.
• Any further diplomatic overtures between Iran and the UAE, given their high‑level side meeting.
• How the bloc’s stance on sanctions and tariffs evolves ahead of the next BRICS summit in 2026 under India’s chairmanship.
• Reactions from external powers, notably the United States and the European Union, to the BRICS emphasis on multilateral trade rules and non‑alignment on geopolitical conflicts.
