Why the BRICS Delhi Summit Was a Diplomatic Victory for India

Source: India Today | Original Published At: 2026-09-14 01:00:00 UTC

Key Points

• The 18th BRICS Summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration by consensus after earlier foreign ministers' meetings had failed to produce joint statements due to divisions over the Middle East.
• India secured collective condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, although the declaration did not name Pakistan.
• The summit provided a platform for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to meet on the sidelines.
• The New Delhi Declaration endorsed cooperation on global governance reform, development finance, trade, digital public infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and supply chains.
• The declaration called for UN Security Council reform and greater representation for developing countries in the IMF and World Bank while criticizing unilateral sanctions and protectionist measures.
• India used its BRICS presidency to emphasize Global South concerns rather than turning the grouping into an explicitly anti-Western bloc.
• The consensus outcome demonstrated that an expanded BRICS grouping could remain functional despite active wars and divergent geopolitical interests among members.