BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026: Key Decisions | Key Takeaways | Latest Updates
Latest Updates from BRICS Summit 2026
BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, despite differences among member countries over the Iran and Ukraine conflicts.
Iran war remains the biggest point of division: BRICS called for “maximum restraint” and a diplomatic solution but stopped short of directly condemning the US, Israel or Iran.
India scored a diplomatic success by helping maintain consensus between members with conflicting positions, particularly Iran and the UAE.
On Ukraine, BRICS called for dialogue, consultation and diplomacy. The bloc also criticised unilateral sanctions that are not authorised by the UN Security Council.
Palestine received stronger language: BRICS opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians and backed humanitarian access to Gaza, UNRWA support and full UN membership for Palestine.
Trade and tariffs: BRICS criticised unilateral tariffs and other trade restrictions without directly naming the United States, while calling for stronger global trade and supply-chain cooperation.
PM Modi’s message: Modi said BRICS has reached a “coming of age” moment and called for the Global South to become a rule-shaper, rather than simply follow rules created elsewhere.
Key Takeaway
The biggest takeaway from the New Delhi Summit is that BRICS managed to preserve consensus despite major geopolitical differences — but the Iran and Ukraine conflicts also exposed the limits of how far the bloc can go in taking a unified geopolitical position.
BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026: 140-Point Pact Focuses on Global South, Trade, AI, Peace and Sustainable Growth
New Delhi, September 13, 2026: The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi has produced one of the most significant collective declarations in the grouping's recent history. BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on September 12, outlining a broad 140-point agenda covering global governance, international security, trade, financial cooperation, artificial intelligence, climate action, healthcare, technology and sustainable development.
The declaration comes as BRICS marks its 20th anniversary and operates as an expanded 11-member grouping comprising Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, along with the UAE. India is holding the BRICS chairship in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
New Delhi Declaration: What Has Been Decided?
The declaration places strong emphasis on creating a more representative and inclusive international system. BRICS leaders reiterated support for multilateralism, multipolarity and reform of global institutions, including greater representation for emerging markets and developing countries in international decision-making structures.
The leaders also stressed the central role of the United Nations and called for global institutions to better reflect contemporary economic and geopolitical realities.
Stronger Voice for the Global South
One of the central themes of the declaration is increasing the participation of Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) and Least Developed Countries in global governance.
BRICS has called for more equitable geographical representation in international organisations and greater participation of developing countries, including at senior decision-making levels. The document also highlights the importance of increasing women's representation in global institutions.
India's BRICS chairship has also been described as people-centric, with more than 400 meetings and engagements organised across around 30 cities during the year.
West Asia Conflict: Call for Restraint and Diplomacy
The geopolitical situation in West Asia was among the most sensitive issues addressed by the grouping.
The BRICS declaration expressed serious concern over escalating violence and called for maximum restraint, dialogue and diplomacy as the preferred route for resolving international disputes. The consensus was notable because the expanded grouping includes countries with differing positions on major geopolitical questions, including Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The declaration also reiterated opposition to unilateral coercive measures and highlighted concerns over the effects of unilateral tariffs and other trade restrictions on developing economies and global supply chains.
No BRICS Currency — Focus Shifts to Local-Currency Payments - BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026
A major point of discussion around BRICS has been the possibility of a common currency. The current declaration does not establish a BRICS common currency.
Instead, members are focusing on practical mechanisms to increase the use of national currencies in trade and investment and improve cross-border payment interoperability. The BRICS Payment Task Force is examining ways to make international transactions more efficient while respecting the monetary and policy priorities of individual member countries.
This approach represents a more incremental strategy for reducing payment friction between BRICS economies rather than immediately creating a shared monetary unit.
AI and Technology Become Major BRICS Priorities
Artificial intelligence has emerged as another important area of cooperation.
The declaration supports cooperation on ethical, inclusive and secure AI, with particular attention to the needs and development priorities of the Global South. BRICS countries also welcomed greater collaboration in science, technology and innovation, including emerging areas such as quantum technologies.
India's initiatives during its chairship include work around digital public infrastructure, AI and technology-driven development, reinforcing New Delhi's push to position emerging economies as active participants in the global technology ecosystem.
Health Cooperation and Pandemic Preparedness
Health security also receives significant attention in the declaration.
BRICS countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation on disease preparedness and early-warning capabilities. One of the major outcomes highlighted from the summit is the planned development of an integrated early-warning system for infectious diseases, aimed at improving preparedness for future outbreaks.
India has also promoted a BRICS health-focused Training Hub Network, with NIMHANS identified as a lead institution for the initiative.
Climate, Energy and Sustainable Development
Sustainability remains at the heart of India's 2026 BRICS agenda.
The declaration calls for cooperation on sustainable development, climate finance, resilient infrastructure and energy transitions. It also emphasises the need for stronger and more reliable supply chains while enabling developing economies to participate in higher-value manufacturing and production.
The document also highlights cooperation in renewable energy and sustainable development, reflecting the broader BRICS effort to balance economic growth with environmental resilience.
Trade and Supply Chains
BRICS leaders have raised concerns about protectionist measures, tariffs and non-tariff barriers that can disrupt global commerce.
The declaration supports more resilient and stable supply chains and calls for greater participation by developing economies in higher-value segments of manufacturing and production. It also backs increased trade and investment cooperation and technology transfer in accordance with national laws and policies.
For emerging economies, the emphasis is not simply on increasing trade volumes but on improving their position within global production networks.
Science, Research and Innovation
The declaration recognises science, technology and innovation as important drivers of sustainable economic and social development.
BRICS countries welcomed the proposed BRICS Science and Research Repository, designed to support knowledge sharing among member countries while respecting national laws, data security and intellectual-property rights. Cooperation in quantum technologies was also highlighted.
Education and Skills Also Get Attention
The declaration extends beyond geopolitics and economics to education and workforce development.
BRICS countries called for greater cooperation in Early Childhood Care and Education, foundational literacy and numeracy, digital literacy, academic mobility and skills development. The BRICS Technical and Vocational Education and Training Cooperation Alliance is also being positioned as a platform for sharing resources, developing training programmes and strengthening links between education and industry.
Urban Development and Resilient Cities
Another important outcome is cooperation on urbanisation.
The BRICS Urbanisation Forum in New Delhi adopted a ministerial declaration focused on people-centred urban development, including affordable housing, water and sanitation, sustainable mobility, waste management and essential urban services.
A BRICS Urban Research and Knowledge Network has also been welcomed as a platform for research, knowledge sharing and capacity building.
What India's BRICS Chairship Has Delivered
India's 2026 chairship has focused heavily on converting BRICS from a primarily political platform into a more practical cooperation mechanism.
The declaration welcomes India's work on the BRICS Task Force on Growth and Development, which examines issues including development finance, digital transformation, AI, structural reforms and climate finance.
The BRICS Business Forum, Solutions Awards and Women's Start-up Awards were also highlighted as mechanisms to strengthen business cooperation and promote innovative solutions.
China to Take Over BRICS Chairship in 2027
The New Delhi Declaration concludes by commending India's 2026 chairship and confirming support for China's BRICS chairship in 2027, when the 19th BRICS Summit is scheduled to be held in China.
Latest Update — September 13, 2026
As of September 13, 2026, the New Delhi Declaration remains the central outcome of India's BRICS Summit. The declaration was unanimously adopted on September 12, while the second day of the summit has continued discussions around resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that geopolitical tensions, supply-chain disruptions, climate risks and the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals require stronger cooperation, particularly among countries of the Global South.
The External Affairs Ministry has described the adoption of the declaration as one of the defining outcomes of India's BRICS chairship, attributing the consensus to year-long engagement across different levels.
The Bigger Picture
The BRICS New Delhi Declaration 2026 is significant because it attempts to combine geopolitical coordination with practical economic and technological cooperation.
From UN reform and conflict resolution to local-currency payments, AI, healthcare, climate action, supply chains, education and sustainable cities, the 140-point document reflects an increasingly broad BRICS agenda.
For India, the declaration also represents an important diplomatic outcome of its 2026 chairship: bringing together an expanded group of emerging economies despite significant differences on international conflicts and economic policy.
Global Magazines Take: The New Delhi Declaration is less about creating a single BRICS alternative to the existing global system and more about strengthening the collective bargaining power, resilience and practical cooperation of emerging economies within a changing international order.
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