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BRICS 18th Summit Adopts New Delhi Declaration
The 18th BRICS Summit outcome comprises the New Delhi Declaration, which provides for agreed formulations on the West Asia conflict. India, as host and chair, authorises consensus language acceptable to divergent member positions. The declaration provides for positions on terrorism, trade measures, local-currency payments, and AI governance.
BRICS New Delhi Declaration:
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Host and chair role | Authorises India, as host and chair, to reconcile divergent positions and ensure geopolitical disagreements do not derail the summit outcome. |
| West Asia conflict language | Provides for broader language without attribution of responsibility for the conflict. |
| West Asia: core calls | Provides for five calls: maximum restraint and avoidance of actions that aggravate the conflict; dialogue and diplomacy for a durable peace; respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states; protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure; continuity of trade, supply chains, and energy flows. |
| Nuclear security and safeguards | Provides for serious concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, and mandates nuclear safety even during armed conflicts. |
| Gaza and Palestine | Provides for: maintenance of the ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access; opposition to forced displacement of Palestinians; protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure; opposition to starvation as a method of warfare; support for UNRWA; a two-state solution with a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital; Palestinian self-determination, right of return, and full UN membership. |
| Lebanon and Syria | Provides for adherence to the Lebanon ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from remaining Lebanese territory, and an inclusive political transition in Syria. |
| Terrorism condemnation | Provides for condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and has specifically condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack that has killed 26 people. |
| Counter-terrorism focus areas | Provides for focus on terror financing, safe havens, extremism and radicalisation among youth, international counter-terrorism cooperation, zero tolerance for terrorism, and rejection of double standards in countering terrorism. |
| Terrorism and identity | Provides for the position that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, nationality, civilisation, or ethnic group. |
| BRICS CTWG | Provides for recognition of the role of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG). |
| Trade and unilateral measures | Provides for opposition to unilateral coercive measures inconsistent with international law, the UN Charter, and WTO principles, and mandates a fair, stable, and predictable trading environment conducive to sustainable development. |
| Carbon border adjustment mechanisms | Provides for opposition to unilateral CBAMs where they are punitive, discriminatory, or protectionist. |
| Common currency | Provides for no announcement of a common BRICS currency. |
| Local-currency and payments priorities | Provides for priorities: interoperability of national payment systems; faster, cheaper, and safer cross-border payments; greater use of local currencies for trade and investment; technical work by the BRICS Payment Task Force; expansion of local-currency financing by the New Development Bank (NDB); continued work on a proposed New Investment Platform; exploration of India’s proposed BRICS Risk Lab at GIFT City. |
| Artificial Intelligence | Provides for AI as both an economic opportunity and a governance challenge for the Global South, and mandates inclusive access to AI resources, safety and security, reliability and energy efficiency, trustworthy and inclusive AI, and greater participation of developing countries in global AI governance. |
| AI Impact Summit | Provides for welcoming India’s hosting of the AI Impact Summit in February 2026. |
| Digital Public Infrastructure | Provides for a proposed BRICS repository for DPI and pilot projects. |
| Health cooperation | Provides for a BRICS Training Hub Network and Centres of Excellence on mental well-being, with NIMHANS, Bengaluru, serving as the coordinating centre. |
| Industry 4.0 | Provides for an India Centre for BRICS Industrial Competencies to support manufacturing firms and small businesses in adopting Industry 4.0 and advanced digital technologies. |
| Development cooperation initiatives | Comprises initiatives: BRICS Task Force on Growth and Development; BRICS-New Development Bank Knowledge Portal; cooperation on infrastructure and public-private partnerships; strengthening the BRICS insurance ecosystem. |