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NEW DELHI: Signaling a monumental triumph for India's foreign policy, member states at the 18th BRICS Summit officially adopted the 'New Delhi Declaration 2026' on the opening day of the high-stakes conclave. Following intense, closed-door multi-lateral sessions at the 'Bharat Mandapam' complex, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the joint consensus document was passed unanimously without a single objection. This landmark consensus was achieved after Indian negotiators successfully brokered days-long, delicate diplomatic talks to bridge a severe rift between Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding the contextual wording of paragraphs on the West Asia conflict.
Taking center stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a sharp message to Western powers, declaring that UN Security Council (UNSC) reforms and structural revamps of global financial institutions can no longer be delayed. To guide this transformation, PM Modi proposed a comprehensive '10-point proposal' for global governance reform, aiming to transform it into an official BRICS Reform Roadmap by the next summit. Addressing the summit, PM Modi stressed, "Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of the decision-making process. We must transform this 'pyramid of privilege' into a 'platform of partnership'—one where the Global South shifts from being rule-takers to rule-shapers.
The adopted declaration firmly condemned unilateral aggression, destructive military moves, and unfair trade tariffs across borders. The momentum of Day 1 intensified in the afternoon with the arrival of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who held a critical bilateral meeting with PM Modi to discuss border disengagement updates along the LAC. These discussions, combined with the strategic defense and energy ties finalized with Russian President Vladimir Putin, led to a unified BRICS commitment to accelerate cross-border trade via a Local Currency Payment System, bypassing the traditional dominance of the US dollar.