Declaration backs UNSC reform, condemns Pahalgam terror attack and unilateral tariffs
New Delhi| Sep, 12 : In a major diplomatic breakthrough for host country India, leaders of the expanded 11-member BRICS grouping unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026 on the opening day of the 18th BRICS Summit. The consensus reflects a key victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who announced that no member country had raised any objections to the joint document despite underlying geopolitical divisions. Adopted under India’s chairship with the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, the declaration sets a broad agenda covering global governance, economic reform, trade, West Asia, and maritime security.
The declaration took a definitive stance on counterterrorism, specifically citing the April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
“We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed,” the declaration said. “We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured.”
Reinforcing New Delhi’s position, the bloc called for “zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards” in global efforts, demanding action against cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing, safe havens, and the expeditious finalization of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
Marking 20 years of the bloc, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the “BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration and consensus” across its political, economic, and cultural pillars. A primary focus was restructuring global governance to give emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) a greater say in international decision-making. The leaders pledged to push for a system that is:
“more just, equitable, agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable”
The grouping backed an “amplified voice of the Global South” through comprehensive UN Security Council reforms. Notably, permanent members China and Russia explicitly renewed their endorsement for Brazil and India’s ambitions:
“China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, reiterate their support to the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council,” the declaration said.
The declaration also called for institutional realignment at the IMF and World Bank, urging immediate execution of quota increases under the IMF’s 16th General Review and realignment under the 17th review.
Addressing global trade friction, BRICS leaders warned against protectionism, voicing “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules”. They reiterated “unwavering support for reform of the World Trade Organization” and called for the immediate restoration of its binding dispute settlement mechanism, while condemning “the imposition of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law”. On global security, leaders emphasized that “security among all countries is indivisible”. Addressing West Asia, they urged restraint, full humanitarian access to Gaza, supported a ceasefire in Lebanon, and reiterated backing for a two-state solution with a sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Hosting over 400 BRICS-related events across 30 cities during India’s chairship since January 1, 2026, PM Modi emphasized to attending world leaders—including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin—that an evolving world cannot be governed by outdated rules. Modi stated that BRICS must move beyond declarations to concrete global actions. To mark the 20th anniversary of the grouping, India also released two commemorative postage stamps, celebrating the evolution of BRICS from a four-member coalition into a formidable global platform.
