BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 12, 2026, reaching consensus after last minute negotiations under India’s chairmanship that resolved differences over language on recent Middle East hostilities.

The 11 member group agreed to avoid directly naming the parties involved in missile strikes linked to the US, Israel and Iran. A compromise involving Iran and the UAE allowed the summit to conclude with a common position despite differences among members over the wording.

According to a report by All India Radio, the declaration called for greater restraint in the Middle East and criticised military operations in Gaza. It backed South Africa’s legal proceedings against Israel and supported a two state Palestinian settlement based on the 1967 borders.

The members also rejected forced displacement of Palestinians. On global governance, BRICS proposed a rotating troika system for managing the grouping, a maritime distress network and technology initiatives aimed at developing countries.

Members also supported broader permanent representation for developing nations, including India and Brazil, on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Economic measures included efforts to increase trade settled in local currencies, while members opposed unilateral economic sanctions and foreign tariffs.

China was designated to hold the BRICS presidency next year. The summit also provided space for bilateral diplomacy. Iran’s leader held a direct meeting with the president of the UAE, while India’s prime minister and China’s president held an hour long bilateral discussion.

The declaration underscores BRICS’s expanding role as an economic and diplomatic forum, while the compromises highlight the challenge of maintaining consensus across members with divergent geopolitical interests.