BRICS Adopts New Delhi Declaration After Iran-UAE Compromise; Modi Says Grouping “Not Against Anyone”

New Delhi: India on Saturday forged a hard-won consensus among BRICS members, leading to the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration after Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed to a last-minute compromise on the language over the West Asia war.

The 11-member declaration, adopted at a summit chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Bharat Mandapam, called for “maximum restraint” in the ongoing conflict without specifically naming the strikes by the US and Israel on Iran or Iran’s retaliatory attacks on its Gulf neighbours, including the UAE. It made no separate mention of the war in Ukraine.

The summit was attended by eight heads of state including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with the leaders of Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Africa. Brazil and the UAE were represented by high-level delegations.

‘BRICS is not against anyone’

Addressing the leaders, PM Modi said 20 years after its formation, BRICS was “coming of age” with a distinct identity.

“We respect each other’s perspectives and move forward through consensus. We strive to move ahead with an approach that is not against anyone but instead seeks to take everyone along,” Modi said, in an apparent reference to US criticism of BRICS as an “anti-Western” bloc.

The Prime Minister proposed a G20-style troika system for BRICS to ensure continuity, along with a roadmap for global governance reform, a seafarer distress network, and a BRICS Global South skill development mechanism for new technologies.

The Declaration called for “comprehensive reform” of the United Nations, including support for Brazil and India for a bigger role in the UN Security Council.

Following the session, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who held an hour-long bilateral meeting with PM Modi, announced that China will take over the BRICS presidency next year. He described BRICS as the “world’s most influential platform for cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries.”

Delicate Diplomacy Behind The Scenes

According to officials, the paragraphs on the West Asia war required delicate diplomacy and overnight negotiations at various levels, including talks between PM Modi and the leaders of Iran, Russia and the UAE.

In a rare diplomatic breakthrough on the sidelines of the summit, Iranian President Pezeshkian met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan.

Sources said previous ministerial meetings this year had failed to issue a joint statement due to the Iran-UAE tussle. While Iran wanted a strong condemnation of the US and Israel similar to the SCO statement, the UAE wanted equal condemnation of Iran’s strikes on its neighbours. The final text settled for non-specific references.

“The cooperation and collaboration of all members was key,” said Sudhakar Dalela, Indian Sherpa for BRICS and Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, at a media briefing after the closed-door session on global governance.

He said the grouping had also built consensus against cross-border terrorism, with a specific reference to the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025.

Strong Rebuke of Israel, Criticism of US Tariffs

Despite India’s close ties with Israel, the Declaration strongly criticised Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, expressed support for South Africa’s case against Israel in international courts, and called for unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza, where over 70,000 civilians are believed to have been killed.

In an extended 8-paragraph reference, the grouping backed a two-state solution for Palestine with full rights at the UN, 1967 borders, and East Jerusalem as its capital, and slammed the “forced displacement, temporary or permanent, under any pretext” of Palestinians.

It also criticised the US blockade of Cuba, expressed deep concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities in West Asia, and voiced concern over violence in Sudan.

On economic issues, BRICS resolved to increase intra-BRICS trade and payments in national currencies. In a swipe at US tariffs and Western sanctions, the statement said members “condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law.”