BRICS Backs UN Reform, Adopts New Delhi Declaration at 20th Anniversary Summit
Oru Leonard
NEW DELHI: BRICS leaders have adopted the New Delhi Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to reforming global governance institutions and strengthening the voice and representation of developing countries in international affairs.
The declaration was adopted at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, where leaders held discussions under the theme, “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”
Briefing journalists after the leaders’ session, Secretary (Economic Relations) at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Sudhakar Dalela, said the summit was a significant milestone as India assumed the BRICS chairship for the fourth time in the year the grouping marks 20 years of institutionalised cooperation.
He said India’s chairship had been guided by the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” (BRICS), with emphasis on practical, forward-looking and people-centred cooperation.
According to Dalela, India organised more than 350 meetings since assuming the chairship in January, covering ministerial engagements, working groups, business interactions and people-focused initiatives.
The leaders broadly agreed on the need to make global governance institutions more representative, inclusive, effective and responsive to contemporary realities.
They reiterated support for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the UN Security Council, to enhance the representation of developing countries. They also called for reforms to the international financial architecture to give the Global South a stronger voice in global economic decision-making.
The summit further reaffirmed the BRICS principles of mutual respect, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness and consensus, with member states stressing dialogue and consultation as the preferred means of addressing differences.
Leaders also exchanged views on geopolitical conflicts and global economic uncertainties, emphasising diplomacy, dialogue and peaceful resolution of disputes.
Speaking at the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a stronger voice for the Global South and urged reforms of global governance institutions to reflect present-day realities.
Modi also proposed four new initiatives to deepen BRICS cooperation which include, the establishment of a BRICS Troika mechanism, a BRICS roadmap on global governance reform, a Seafarer Emergency Support Initiative Network to assist seafarers in distress worldwide, and a Global South Negotiation Support Initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of officials and young professionals in emerging areas including technology and global rule-making.
Dalela described the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration as one of the defining outcomes of India’s BRICS chairship, saying it demonstrated the ability of member states to reach consensus on issues of global importance.
A fact sheet released alongside the declaration outlines more than 50 practical outcomes across the four pillars of India’s chairship — resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
As part of the summit’s sustainability agenda, BRICS leaders participated in a joint tree-planting initiative reflecting India’s emphasis on environmental stewardship and climate action.
A commemorative postal stamp was also released to mark two decades of BRICS cooperation.
