BRICS Summit: New Delhi Declaration Highlights Consensus Amid Geopolitical Differences

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi ended with member countries adopting the New Delhi Declaration, marking an effort to build consensus within an increasingly expanded grouping despite differences over global conflicts, trade and international governance. The declaration reflected areas of common ground among BRICS members while also revealing the diplomatic challenges created by the bloc’s growing membership.

The summit came at a time when BRICS has expanded beyond its original members to include several countries with differing political and strategic priorities. The enlarged grouping includes major economies as well as countries from the Middle East and other parts of the Global South. Reaching agreement on a common position therefore required careful negotiations on issues where members do not always share the same interests.

One of the most sensitive issues was the conflict in West Asia. BRICS countries have expressed varying positions on the conflict, particularly concerning Israel and Palestine. The declaration sought to accommodate these differences by reiterating support for a peaceful resolution while emphasising international law and the need to address the humanitarian consequences of ongoing violence.

The discussions also highlighted the difficulties surrounding the Ukraine conflict and broader tensions between Russia and Western countries. India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are essential for resolving international disputes, while seeking to preserve strategic relations with both Russia and Western partners.

The declaration placed considerable emphasis on the concerns of the Global South, including the need for greater representation of developing countries in international institutions. BRICS members reiterated calls for reforms to global governance structures, including international financial institutions and the United Nations system.

Economic cooperation remained another important area of agreement. The grouping discussed measures aimed at increasing trade and investment among member countries, strengthening financial cooperation and reducing vulnerabilities arising from excessive dependence on established global economic systems.

The summit also expanded the BRICS agenda to emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, climate change and sustainable development. With technological capabilities becoming increasingly important to economic growth and national security, members explored ways to strengthen cooperation in areas including AI and advanced manufacturing.

For India, hosting the summit provided an opportunity to position New Delhi as a bridge between countries with competing geopolitical interests. The ability to secure a joint declaration despite differences was viewed as an important diplomatic achievement, particularly given the expanded membership and the increasingly complex international environment.