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BRICS Nations Reach Consensus on Joint Declaration Despite Iran Conflict
Confirmed
In Short: BRICS members have finalized a joint declaration at the 18th summit in New Delhi, with India playing a crucial role in bridging differences amid tensions over the conflict in West Asia.
BRICS nations have reached consensus on a joint declaration at the 18th summit in New Delhi, despite a sharp divide over the ongoing conflict in West Asia, according to multiple media reports. Diplomatic sources and media outlets confirm that negotiators worked into the early hours of Saturday to finalize the text, with only one paragraph remaining unresolved until the final push.
The most sensitive issue was the West Asia paragraph, where Iran wanted strong language condemning US and Israeli actions, while the UAE sought to avoid naming specific aggressors. India, as chair, sought a narrow, principle-based compromise, aiming to keep the focus on regional stability and avoid turning BRICS into an anti-West platform. The final text is expected to reflect this middle path, with generic references to conflict, sovereignty, and dialogue.
Beyond West Asia, the New Delhi Declaration is likely to endorse a broad agenda aligned with India’s 2026 chairmanship theme, including digital and AI governance, economic resilience, and climate initiatives. The joint declaration is expected to support human-centric AI, digital public infrastructure, and implementation of the New Delhi AI Declaration adopted earlier in the year.
Follow-up actions on BRICS economic, digital, and climate initiatives were announced during the summit. The joint declaration is the main political output of the summit and a key test of India’s ability to hold together an expanded BRICS that now includes 11 members with divergent security alignments. The agreement on the 'New Delhi Declaration' comes despite a sharp divide between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over references to the ongoing conflict in the region, which had threatened to derail the document.
By Saturday afternoon, BRICS leaders were expected to approve the document, with India playing a key role in bridging differences among members. PTI, citing government sources, reported that negotiations continued until 4 am as India led sustained consultations to reconcile competing positions and build consensus. The final text is expected to reflect a middle path, with generic references to conflict, sovereignty, and dialogue rather than naming specific aggressors.
What's confirmed
- BRICS nations have reached consensus on a joint declaration at the 18th summit in New Delhi, despite a sharp divide over the ongoing conflict in West Asia, according to multiple media reports. Diplomatic sources and media outlets confirm that negotiators worked into the early hours of Saturday to finalize the text, with only one paragraph remaining unresolved until the final push.
- The most sensitive issue was the West Asia paragraph, where Iran wanted strong language condemning US and Israeli actions, while the UAE sought to avoid naming specific aggressors. India, as chair, sought a narrow, principle-based compromise, aiming to keep the focus on regional stability and avoid turning BRICS into an anti-West platform. The final text is expected to reflect this middle path, with generic references to conflict, sovereignty, and dialogue.
- Beyond West Asia, the New Delhi Declaration is likely to endorse a broad agenda aligned with India’s 2026 chairmanship theme, including digital and AI governance, economic resilience, and climate initiatives. The joint declaration is expected to support human-centric AI, digital public infrastructure, and implementation of the New Delhi AI Declaration adopted earlier in the year.
- Follow-up actions on BRICS economic, digital, and climate initiatives were announced during the summit. The joint declaration is the main political output of the summit and a key test of India’s ability to hold together an expanded BRICS that now includes 11 members with divergent security alignments. The agreement on the 'New Delhi Declaration' comes despite a sharp divide between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over references to the ongoing conflict in the region, which had threatened to derail the document.
- By Saturday afternoon, BRICS leaders were expected to approve the document, with India playing a key role in bridging differences among members. PTI, citing government sources, reported that negotiations continued until 4 am as India led sustained consultations to reconcile competing positions and build consensus. The final text is expected to reflect a middle path, with generic references to conflict, sovereignty, and dialogue rather than naming specific aggressors.
What's still developing
- Economic resilience: Endorsement of the BRICS Economic Partnership Strategy 2030, principles on digital trade, resilient value chains and continued work on cross-border payments to reduce dollar dependence.
- Reuters, citing four sources, separately reported that negotiators had agreed on a joint declaration that was unlikely to name any country but would condemn unilateral war by any country.