Context: The 18th BRICS Summit and the New Delhi Declaration reaffirmed the need for reformed multilateralism amid increasing unilateral actions by major powers.
Significance of the Summit
- High-level participation: Member countries participated at the highest political levels, demonstrating the continued relevance of the grouping.
- Intra-BRICS economic cooperation: Greater emphasis was placed on strengthening intra-BRICS trade, including greater use of local currencies.
- Consensus amid conflicts: India successfully negotiated a joint declaration despite differences among members and ongoing wars.
Major Outcomes of the New Delhi Declaration
1. Reform of Global Governance
- BRICS called for reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to make global governance more representative and reflective of contemporary power realities.
- It supported a greater role for India and Brazil in the Security Council.
- The declaration proposed new initiatives aimed at strengthening and reforming global governance.
2. Trade and Economic Cooperation
- BRICS condemned the use of unilateral sanctions and tariffs as instruments of economic pressure.
- Members resolved to strengthen intra-BRICS trade and investment.
- The grouping expressed support for conducting a greater share of transactions in local currencies, reducing dependence on dominant international currencies.
3. Position on Conflicts and Unilateralism
- BRICS condemned unilateral military actions and wars, while avoiding direct criticism of any individual member.
- The declaration took a particularly strong position against Israel's actions in Palestine and Lebanon.
- References to the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran, the reported assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and Iran's retaliatory attacks on neighbouring countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), were omitted.
- The omission reportedly reflected a last-minute compromise between Iran and the UAE to preserve consensus on the joint declaration.
4. West Asian Diplomacy
- India facilitated an important diplomatic engagement between Iran and the UAE, two countries with differing positions in the West Asian conflict.
- The Summit provided an opportunity for the two countries to hold their highest-level bilateral meeting since the beginning of the war.
- Saudi Arabia's position remained ambiguous, as it had not formally joined BRICS and its Foreign Minister arrived after the main session in which the joint declaration was adopted.
India’s Diplomatic Gains
- Balancing Global Partnerships: India's fourth BRICS chairship strengthened its image as a Global South balancer, capable of maintaining relationships with competing geopolitical blocs. India demonstrated its ability to engage simultaneously with countries aligned with the United States and its partners and countries challenging the existing global order.
- India-Iran Relations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's engagement with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian helped address Iranian concerns over India's perceived tilt towards the U.S. and Israel during the conflict.
- India-China Relations: The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping provided an opportunity to reaffirm political commitment towards normalising bilateral relations.
- Engagement with Global South: India's meetings with leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and African countries renewed attention to India's broader Global South partnerships.
BRICS and the Emerging Global Order
- BRICS represents a grouping of major emerging economies seeking greater influence in institutions traditionally dominated by established powers.
- Its growing emphasis on local-currency trade, institutional reform and greater representation reflects efforts towards a more multipolar international system.
- The Summit demonstrated that BRICS members can develop common positions despite significant political, strategic and economic differences.
BRICS
- BRICS was originally formed as BRIC—Brazil, Russia, India and China—with South Africa joining in 2010, converting it into BRICS.
- The grouping has subsequently expanded beyond its original five members, reflecting its growing geopolitical and economic significance.
- BRICS primarily serves as a platform for economic, financial, developmental and geopolitical cooperation among emerging economies.
- The New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai, was established by BRICS to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable-development projects in member and other developing countries.
Conclusion: The 18th BRICS Summit demonstrated the grouping's effort to reshape traditional global power equations through greater representation, economic cooperation, local-currency transactions and a stronger voice for the Global South.
