BRICS issues New Delhi Declaration, as UAE and Iran back down from tough positions
The BRICS grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration after reaching a compromise on language regarding the war in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi used the summit to advocate for global governance reform and a more inclusive, non-aligned identity for the bloc.
Why it matters
The successful adoption of the declaration demonstrates BRICS's ability to maintain consensus despite internal geopolitical tensions and its growing ambition to influence global governance.
India forged a consensus of BRICS countries on Saturday (September 12, 2026), after Iran and the United Arab Emirates agreed to a last-minute compromise on the language used about the war in West Asia, allowing the 11-member grouping to adopt the New Delhi Declaration at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The statement — that did not directly mention the attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel nor Iran’s subsequent strikes on its Persian Gulf neighbours, including the UAE — called for “maximum restraint” in the war. It made no separate mention of the Russian war in Ukraine.
The meeting was attended by the leaders of eight member countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the leaders of Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and South Africa. Brazil and the UAE sent high-level representatives.
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