- Leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, advocating for multilateralism and diplomatic resolutions to geopolitical tensions and international conflicts.
- The group condemned terrorism, specifically naming the 2025 Pahalgam attack, while urging global cooperation to prevent terrorist financing and safe havens.
- BRICS members expressed concern regarding unilateral trade restrictions and discussed enhancing cross-border payment systems using national currencies.
- The summit emphasized reforming international institutions like the UN and World Bank to reflect the weight of emerging and developing nations.
New Delhi: The 18th BRICS Summit opened in New Delhi on Saturday, with leaders of major emerging economies meeting amid continuing geopolitical tensions, trade disputes and debate over the future of the global order.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day summit at Bharat Mandapam. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are among the key leaders attending the meeting.
The summit is taking place as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East continue to influence international relations. Disputes over tariffs, sanctions and trade have also added to uncertainty in the global economy.
For BRICS, the meeting is an opportunity to discuss common concerns, but differences among its members remain over a number of major political and security issues.
New Delhi Declaration adopted
The summit adopted the New Delhi Declaration, covering a wide range of issues, including international conflicts, terrorism, trade, cross-border payments, nuclear risks, climate change and reform of global institutions.
The declaration reiterates the group's support for multilateralism and calls for disputes to be addressed through dialogue, consultation and diplomatic efforts.
On some major conflicts, however, the language remains cautious, reflecting differences among member countries.
The Middle East is one of the clearest examples.
Middle East tensions test BRICS consensus
The situation in the Middle East was among the more difficult issues discussed by the leaders in New Delhi.
In the declaration, BRICS expressed concern about the worsening situation and called for maximum restraint. It urged the parties involved to avoid steps that could further escalate the conflict and called for dialogue and diplomatic efforts.
The statement did not directly name the main parties involved in the conflict.
The cautious wording reflects the different positions within BRICS. Iran is a member of the grouping, while the United Arab Emirates has close security ties with the United States. India, China, Russia and Brazil also have their own interests and positions on the conflict.
The final statement therefore reflects areas of agreement rather than a single position on the Middle East.
BRICS condemns terrorism, mentions Pahalgam attack
The New Delhi Declaration also condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
BRICS leaders specifically condemned the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed and several others injured.
The declaration calls for greater international cooperation against terrorism and stresses the need to prevent terrorist financing, cross-border movement and the provision of safe havens to terrorist groups and their members.
It also states that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group.
For India, the reference to the Pahalgam attack is important because New Delhi has consistently called for stronger international cooperation against terrorism, including what it describes as cross-border terrorism.
At the same time, the declaration represents the position agreed upon by all BRICS members and should not be read as an endorsement of India's position on every regional security issue.
Trade restrictions raise concern
Trade was another major issue at the summit.
BRICS members expressed concern about unilateral tariffs and other trade restrictions, saying such measures can disrupt international commerce and create additional difficulties for developing economies.
The declaration calls for a more open, predictable and inclusive multilateral trading system and stresses the need for international cooperation in addressing economic challenges.
Trade restrictions have become a growing concern as governments increasingly use tariffs and other economic measures as part of their national policies.
BRICS has previously argued that unilateral economic measures can put additional pressure on developing countries. However, member states have different economies and trade interests, which can make agreement on specific policies difficult.
Focus on cross-border payments
Cross-border payments are another area where BRICS members are seeking greater cooperation.
The declaration calls for efforts to make international payments faster, cheaper, safer and more accessible.
Member countries are also exploring ways to improve links between their existing payment systems and increase the use of national currencies in trade and investment.
The discussions, however, do not amount to an agreement to create a common BRICS currency.
Any deeper financial integration would involve a number of challenges, including differences in monetary policies, exchange-rate systems, capital controls and trade patterns.
For now, the emphasis is on improving payment systems and making greater use of national currencies where individual members find it practical.
Nuclear risks remain a concern
The leaders also discussed growing nuclear risks and the possibility of regional conflicts escalating further.
The declaration stresses the importance of arms control, disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation in maintaining international peace and security.
BRICS also reaffirmed support for existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and their role in international non-proliferation efforts.
The issue is particularly sensitive for the grouping because it includes nuclear-armed countries such as China, India and Russia, as well as members with different security concerns and approaches to nuclear policy.
Ukraine remains a difficult issue
The war in Ukraine is another issue on which BRICS members have not adopted a common position.
Russia is directly involved in the war, while China has called for a political settlement. India has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy, while other BRICS members have their own political and economic relationships with Moscow and Kyiv.
These differences have made it difficult for the group to adopt a strong collective position on the conflict.
Instead, BRICS has generally emphasized dialogue, diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
A larger and more diverse BRICS
BRICS has expanded considerably since it was formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China.
South Africa later joined the group, followed by Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Indonesia joined as a full member in 2025.
The official BRICS platform lists Saudi Arabia among its members, although its formal membership status has been described differently in international reporting.
Saudi Arabia is participating in the New Delhi summit, represented by Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan.
The expansion has increased the group's economic and political reach, but it has also made consensus more difficult.
The members have different political systems, economic priorities and relationships with the United States, Europe and other major powers.
Call for reform of global institutions
Reform of international institutions remains a longstanding BRICS demand.
The group argues that organizations such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should give greater consideration to the changing economic and demographic weight of developing and emerging economies.
India has also continued to seek a greater role in global decision-making, including its longstanding demand for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
The New Delhi Declaration again supports reforms intended to give developing countries a stronger voice in international institutions.
India faces diplomatic balancing act
Hosting the summit puts India at the centre of a complex diplomatic exercise.
New Delhi maintains long-standing relations with Russia while also expanding cooperation with the United States, Europe, Japan and other Western partners.
India and China, meanwhile, remain strategic rivals and continue to have unresolved disputes along their border.
The presence of both Xi and Putin in New Delhi has therefore attracted considerable attention.
For India, the summit provides an opportunity to engage with major powers on the same platform while maintaining its policy of strategic autonomy.
Modi's meetings with Xi and Putin are also being closely watched for indications of how India intends to manage its relations with two important partners with which it also has significant differences.
BRICS is not a political or military alliance
Despite its growing influence, BRICS is not a military alliance and does not function as a unified political bloc.
Its members often differ over international conflicts, trade, security and relations with Western countries.
The Middle East is one example. India, China, Russia, Iran, Brazil and the UAE have different interests and approaches to regional conflicts.
Those differences can make negotiations more difficult, but they also explain why BRICS statements tend to concentrate on broader areas of agreement.
The New Delhi Declaration follows that pattern. It sets out common positions on issues including terrorism, trade, economic cooperation and multilateralism, while using more cautious language on some of the most divisive conflicts.
Economic cooperation provides common ground
Economic cooperation remains one of the main areas where BRICS members have common interests.
The countries are exploring ways to expand cooperation in trade, payment systems, investment, infrastructure, technology and development financing.
Cross-border payment arrangements and the use of national currencies are among the practical areas where cooperation could increase.
Renewable energy and sustainable development are also part of the broader BRICS agenda as member countries seek economic growth while dealing with the transition to cleaner sources of energy.
Challenges ahead
The New Delhi summit highlights both the growing importance and the limits of BRICS.
The grouping has become a larger forum for emerging and developing economies, but its expansion has also brought together countries with competing interests and different views on major geopolitical issues.
The adoption of the New Delhi Declaration shows that members can agree on a range of broad principles and areas of cooperation.
At the same time, the cautious language on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine points to the limits of that agreement.
For India, the summit offers an opportunity to strengthen its position among developing economies and maintain dialogue with major powers that do not always share the same interests.
For China and Russia, BRICS remains an important forum for expanding cooperation with countries outside the traditional Western alliance system.
For other members, the grouping provides a platform to seek greater representation in international institutions while pursuing trade, investment and development cooperation.
The New Delhi summit does not turn BRICS into a unified political alliance or replace existing international institutions. Instead, it shows a diverse group of countries seeking cooperation in areas where their interests overlap, while continuing to differ on some of the world's most difficult political and security issues.
