From May Deadlock to Delhi Consensus: How India Found the Words BRICS Could Agree On

Source: Moneycontrol | Original Published At: 2026-09-13 05:35:05 UTC

Key Points

• India held the BRICS chairship in 2026 and oversaw the adoption of a 140-paragraph New Delhi Declaration by BRICS leaders in September.
• The May foreign ministers’ meeting failed to produce a joint statement because of divisions between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over West Asia and disagreements over Gaza-related language.
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the summit was preceded by eight months of engagement involving more than 350 meetings across BRICS tracks.
• Negotiators sought common denominators and comfort areas, allowing members to retain national positions while agreeing on shared principles.
• Paragraph 28 expresses concern over escalation in West Asia without assigning responsibility, calling for restraint, civilian protection, sovereignty, dialogue, and stability for trade, supply chains, energy flows, and maritime security.
• The declaration addresses Ukraine without naming it, opposes unilateral tariffs and sanctions without naming the United States, and retains prior BRICS language on terrorism and Security Council reform.
• India’s chairship reported more than 50 practical outcomes in areas including digital agriculture, health, startups, digital public infrastructure, trade, finance, energy, and urban development.