Full Breakdown
BRICS Summit in New Delhi Issues Joint Call for Restraint Amid Middle-East Conflict
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On September 12, 2026, the 18th BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi adopted the “New Delhi Declaration.” The statement was issued despite divergent positions among members—including Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia—over the conflict that began after U.S.–Israeli strikes in late February.
Background & Context
BRICS, founded in 2009 by Brazil, Russia, India and China and now comprising 11 nations, represents roughly half the world’s population and about a quarter of global nominal GDP. The bloc has positioned itself as a platform for the Global South, advocating reforms of the UN Security Council, IMF and World Bank. The 2026 summit arrived as the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East tested the group’s cohesion, while U.S.–China tensions added further strain.
Data & Statistics
- Members: 11 nations.
- Population share: ~50 % of the world’s people.
- GDP share: ~25 % of global nominal output.
- Oil price: Crude traded above US $100 per barrel amid supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Official Statements & Responses
- Joint Declaration: Calls for “maximum restraint,” urges avoidance of actions that could aggravate the situation, reaffirms commitment to peaceful dispute resolution through dialogue, and opposes unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi (India): Said the declaration was adopted “by consensus” and emphasized that BRICS “is not against anyone,” urging the bloc to translate its unity into concrete outcomes for the Global South.
- President Xi Jinping (China): Described the Middle-East war as not serving common international interests and pledged that BRICS would play a “due role” in peacemaking while promoting AI-driven industrial cooperation.
- President Vladimir Putin (Russia): Called for expanding UN Security Council representation for Asia, Africa and Latin America, arguing that such reform would improve the body’s effectiveness.
- President Masoud Pezeshkian (Iran): Highlighted the need to protect nuclear safety in armed conflict and urged members to resist unilateral sanctions, noting that “national currencies” should be used more widely in intra-BRICS trade.
- Other Leaders: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed attended, reinforcing the emphasis on smooth global trade, supply chains and energy flows.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources agree on the core content of the New Delhi Declaration. However, the communique does not specify concrete enforcement mechanisms for its calls on restraint or sanctions, leaving open how member states will translate the language into actionable policy. It also condemns attacks on civilian and nuclear sites without naming responsible parties, reflecting the bloc’s effort to maintain consensus among members with opposing geopolitical alignments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “One of the most important steps is to expand the use of national currencies in trade among the members,” — Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran
- “We respect each other’s perspectives and move forward through consensus. We strive to move ahead with an approach that is not against anyone but instead seeks to take everyone along,” — Narendra Modi, India
- “The New Delhi Declaration has been adopted by consensus,” — Narendra Modi, India