BRICS Leaders Adopt 140-Point New Delhi Declaration Calling for Restraint in Middle East

Adoption of the New Delhi Declaration

Leaders of the 11-nation BRICS group approved the New Delhi Declaration by unanimous consensus on Saturday, 12 September 2026, during the opening session of their summit in India. The approval concluded negotiations that remained open until hours before the plenary meeting began, according to an EFE source close to the deliberations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the final draft to the assembled heads of state, stating that the text reflected the essence of member consultations on regional and international issues while establishing a roadmap to expand cooperation within the bloc. Modi called for objections from the floor before formally approving the document.

If no member has objections, I propose that we adopt the Declaration.

Following a brief pause without objections, Modi declared the text approved and struck his gavel before the assembly. The 11 member states participating in the summit comprise Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. The resulting communique spans 45 pages and 140 numbered clauses.

Middle East conflict and nuclear safeguards

The declaration addresses escalating tensions across the Middle East, urging all participating parties to maintain maximum restraint and avoid measures that could worsen hostilities. While noting the individual national positions of member governments, the text calls for the protection of civilian populations, sovereign borders, and territorial integrity. The signatories registered concern regarding deliberate attacks against civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities operating under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.

The Middle East war does not serve the common interests of the international community.

Chinese President Xi Jinping told fellow leaders that China will coordinate with BRICS partners to pursue peace across the Middle East and the Gulf. Xi called on the group to oppose bloc confrontation, sovereignty violations, and trade protectionism. In separate clauses, the declaration emphasizes the necessity of maintaining the uninterrupted flow of global commerce, supply chains, and energy shipments. The text did not explicitly mention the Strait of Hormuz, despite the chokepoint experiencing disruption during recent regional escalations.

Sanctions policy and omitted conflicts

In point 22 of the New Delhi Declaration, the bloc formally condemned the application of unilateral coercive measures that contravene international law. The document specifies that unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions produce negative consequences for human rights, calling for the elimination of measures the signatories defined as unlawful. Member governments reiterated their support for diplomatic dialogue and conflict prevention frameworks to secure lasting stability.

Although the 140-point declaration assigned dedicated sections to several specific international disputes, it omitted any direct mention of the war in Ukraine. The communique instead concentrated on broader geopolitical alignment, rejecting unilateralism, and reinforcing intra-bloc coordination across energy distribution, trade routes, and international financial systems.