Brics leaders adopt New Delhi Declaration at summit marked by Iran war divisions

September 13, 2026 at 04:23 PM2 min

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Brics leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on the first day of their summit in Delhi, reaching consensus after two earlier ministerial meetings failed to produce a joint statement. The declaration urges 'maximum restraint' on the war in the Middle East but sidesteps issues members sharply disagree on. The summit brought together leaders including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Masoud Pezeshkian, even as India sought to avoid casting the group as anti-Western.

Key Facts

The New Delhi Declaration was adopted on the first day of the Brics summit in Delhi.
Twice earlier this year, meetings between Brics ministers failed to produce a joint statement.
The declaration urges 'maximum restraint' on the war in the Middle East.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the group is 'not against anyone'.
India and China engaged in a deadly clash along their disputed border in 2020.

Summit Attendance

The summit gathered leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the leaders should increasingly become 'rule-shapers', not 'rule-takers'. The fact that India was able to gather these leaders together in person is a testament to its diplomatic reach.

Joint Declaration

The summit succeeded in delivering a joint declaration when divisions among members have rarely been so glaring. Twice earlier this year, meetings between Brics ministers had failed to produce a joint statement. This time a consensus was reached, but by side-stepping issues that members sharply disagree on, with few solutions. On the war in the Middle East, the declaration urges 'maximum restraint'.

Divisions Within Brics

India and China engaged in a deadly clash along their disputed border in 2020. Iran and the UAE have been on opposing ends of the war in the Middle East, with Tehran launching missiles and drones at its fellow Brics member. For members such as China, Russia and Iran, Brics offers a vehicle to dilute the influence of the US and western Europe. India has been reluctant to cast Brics as an anti-Western bloc, and Modi said the group is 'not against anyone'.