BRICS Summit in New Delhi Adopts Declaration, Highlights Diplomatic Thaws and Internal Divisions
Leaders from BRICS nations gathered in New Delhi to adopt the 'New Delhi Declaration,' positioning the bloc as 'rule-shapers' rather than an anti-Western alliance. The summit facilitated high-level talks between Iran and the UAE and marked a tentative thaw in India-China relations, though internal disagreements resulted in vague language regarding conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The BRICS summit held in New Delhi concluded with the adoption of the 'New Delhi Declaration,' a document that sought to define the group’s evolving role on the global stage. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during the proceedings that BRICS leaders should aim to become "rule-shapers" rather than "rule-takers," signaling an intent to position the bloc as a constructive force rather than an explicitly anti-Western coalition.
The gathering included prominent world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Despite previous failures earlier this year to produce joint statements, the members achieved consensus on the declaration on the first day of the summit.
A significant diplomatic outcome was the high-level face-to-face meeting between Iranian President Pezeshkian and the UAE's Crown Prince. This encounter, described as the highest level known between their countries since the recent Middle East war began, took place despite the two nations being on opposing sides of the conflict, with Tehran having launched missiles and drones at the UAE. The summit provided a platform for reassessing relationships in light of these tensions and offered Tehran a chance to demonstrate it does not stand alone amid pressure from Washington and Israel.
The summit also marked a gradual warming of relations between India and China. President Xi visited Delhi for the first time in seven years, engaging in a cordial handshake with Prime Minister Modi. Although Xi stayed for less than 24 hours and skipped the gala dinner, the two leaders agreed to strengthen business ties, improve transport links, and address trade barriers. This interaction signaled a potential thaw following the deadly border clash between the two nations in 2020.
However, the final declaration reflected deep internal divisions among the members. While the text urged "maximum restraint" regarding the Middle East war and condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities, it did so without assigning blame or naming specific countries. Notably, the declaration made no mention of Russia's war in Ukraine, a departure from previous BRICS documents. Additionally, while the text listed concerns over "indiscriminate rising tariffs" and condemned unilateral sanctions, it did not name the United States.
The event demonstrated the diplomatic reach of BRICS by bringing together rivals such as India, China, Iran, and the UAE outside Western-dominated institutions. Yet, the vague language in the joint statement highlighted the sharp disagreements among members on issues like the attribution of blame in the Middle East conflict and the stance on Ukraine, underscoring the challenge of maintaining unity within the diverse bloc.