BRICS leaders have agreed on a joint declaration, sources told reporters on Saturday, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough as the bloc seeks to strengthen its influence on the global stage.
Host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BRICS had “come of age” and urged members to turn their unity and consensus into concrete global results.
The agreement comes amid renewed U.S.-Iran fighting and tensions in the Gulf, with Iran and the United Arab Emirates among the BRICS members navigating differences over the regional conflict. Sources said the declaration is expected to condemn unilateral aggression without naming any specific country.
India played a key role in bridging differences among members through sustained consultations, according to an Indian source familiar with the negotiations. The breakthrough follows the failure of BRICS foreign ministers to issue a joint statement in May because of disagreements involving Iran and the UAE.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are among the leaders attending.
Xi called on BRICS countries to stand “on the right side of history” and push the international order toward greater equity and justice.
Modi also renewed India’s call for reform of the U.N. Security Council, including permanent seats for India and other emerging powers.
“While strengthening BRICS, we must also determine the direction of global reform,” Modi said. “The Global South is today in the front row when it comes to global crises, but in the back row when it comes to decision-making. We have to transform this pyramid and privilege into a platform of partnership, where every country has a voice, every member has a stake.”
“The message of this BRICS Summit being held in India should be clear: If our future is shared, then the right to shape that future must also be shared,” Modi said.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Founded in 2009, the grouping seeks greater influence over global institutions and international rules, with its members representing more than 40% of the world’s population and nearly a quarter of the global economy.
