Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 12: In a major diplomatic breakthrough for India, the BRICS summit gathering on Saturday adopted the “New Delhi Declaration” reaffirming the BRICS commitment to a more representative, fair and inclusive global order and calling for equal participation for the Global South in the development of future technologies and the rules that govern them.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the consensus document at the summit at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi stating that the changing global order should not be run by outdated institutions as he pushed for reforms and necessary representation in rule-making.
The Declaration also called for stronger multilateralism and greater participation of emerging and developing economies in global decision-making.
The declaration specifically called for reform of the UN Security Council, with greater representation for developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. The grouping said developing countries must have a greater voice in international institutions. China and Russia, the two permanent members of the Security Council represented at the summit, reiterated their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role at the United Nations, including on the Security Council.
On global conflicts, BRICS expressed deep concern over the escalation in West Asia, calling for maximum restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and dialogue and diplomacy towards lasting peace. The declaration also called for maintaining the flow of global trade, supply chains and energy. It also denounced “unilateral acts of war” and stressed the need to ensure safety of seafarers and commercial navigation amid the ongoing military aggression in the West Asia.
On Gaza, it urged adherence to the ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access and an end to forced displacement, while reaffirming support for a two-state solution and Palestine’s full UN membership.
The declaration also strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and specifically condemned the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people. BRICS called for stronger action against cross-border terrorism, terror financing and safe havens, and urged that those involved in terrorist activities and their support networks be held accountable. It also called for deeper cooperation against extremism, radicalisation, organised crime, money laundering and cross-border fraud networks.
“We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured. We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens. We reiterate that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with relevant national and international law,” the Declaration read.
“We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism. We emphasise the primary responsibility of States in combating terrorism and that global efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats must fully comply with their obligations under international law,” it said.
The declaration stated intra-BRICS trade should increasingly be conducted in local currencies rather than the US dollar. “Today’s discussion makes it evident that the changing world cannot be steered by outdated institutions; reforms are essential in representation, responsiveness and rule-making,” PM Modi said in his concluding remarks.
“We also emphasised that the Global South must have equal participation in the development of future technologies and the rules governing them.” “The New Delhi Declaration adopted today provides a clear direction for our shared resolve. It is now our responsibility to translate these resolutions into tangible results,” he added.
The BRICS countries, in the declaration, expressed serious concern over the growing use of unilateral tariffs and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with World Trade Organisation rules. They also condemned unilateral coercive measures that run contrary to international law. BRICS reaffirmed its support for reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and for an open, transparent, equitable and rules-based global trading system.
“We note that the multilateral trading system has long been at a crossroads. The proliferation of trade-restrictive actions that are inconsistent with WTO rules, whether in the form of indiscriminate rising of tariffs and non-tariff measures, or protectionism under the guise of environmental objectives, threatens to further reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities, potentially exacerbating existing economic disparities and negatively affecting prospects for global economic development,” the Declaration read.
“We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules. We will work together to enhance the WTO’s responsiveness to trade disruptions and the needs and priorities of emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), as well as advance discussions on outstanding issues, and support balanced, inclusive and concrete outcomes that strengthen the multilateral trading system and enable it to better address evolving global challenges,” it continued.
The declaration called for greater engagement in conflict prevention, including efforts to address the root causes of conflicts. The grouping also reaffirmed its commitment to resolving international disputes peacefully through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy.
BRICS countries further advocated a multilateral approach that takes into account diverse national perspectives on key global issues, stressing the importance of dialogue and cooperation in addressing international challenges.
Technology, innovation, health, agriculture and climate resilience also featured prominently. BRICS recognised AI as a major opportunity for economic growth and sustainable development, while calling for safe, secure, inclusive and trustworthy AI. The declaration also promoted digital public infrastructure, cooperation in agriculture and food security, resilient energy systems, critical-mineral supply chains and disaster preparedness, reflecting the summit’s broader theme of “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
The grouping called for progress on the 17th General Review of Quotas to increase the voting shares and representation of developing countries in international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
BRICS reaffirmed its commitment to the Leaders’ Statement on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, building on discussions at India’s AI Impact Summit and the World AI Conference in Shanghai. The declaration strongly condemned “unilateral coercive measures” and secondary sanctions, describing them as contrary to international law. The issue remains a key BRICS concern amid opposition to unilateral sanctions regimes.
PM Modi welcomed world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to the summit on Saturday. The gathering brought together leaders from across the BRICS grouping. The declaration comes as BRICS marks two decades since its creation and after the grouping expanded beyond its original membership.
“Alongside the diversity of our views, our shared commitment to BRICS cooperation has also clearly emerged. Today’s discussion makes it evident that the changing world cannot be steered by outdated institutions; reforms are essential in representation, responsiveness, and rule-making,” he said.
“We also emphasised that the Global South must have equal participation in the development of future technologies and the rules governing them. The gap between decisions and their outcomes must be bridged through partnership and collective action,” he added.