BRICS Delhi Declaration to Back Terror Fight, UNSC Reform and Global South

BRICS leaders are expected to adopt a Delhi declaration on September 12-13 that sets out a shared position against terrorism, backs reform of global governance institutions and endorses India's bid for a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.

Negotiators from the 11 member countries have settled on common language across ten broad takeaways, even as discussions continue on the wording covering the conflict in West Asia, where Iran and the United Arab Emirates remain divided. One option under consideration is a universal condemnation of violations of territorial integrity and sovereignty, framed without naming any country.

On terrorism, members have agreed to unequivocal condemnation and a commitment to combat it in all its forms and manifestations. They have also reached consensus on strengthening multilateralism and reforming institutions of global governance.

The declaration is expected to project BRICS as a stronger voice for the Global South, with India credited for ensuring that the priorities, perspectives and aspirations of developing countries are reflected in the emerging world order. The grouping will also commit to sharing development experience with Global South partners.

New Delhi is positioning BRICS as a bridge builder and a platform for dialogue, understanding and constructive cooperation, and is seeking to frame it as a complementary, development-oriented grouping. That emphasis carries weight at a time when China and Russia have pushed for a harder security and military character for the bloc.

Officials point to more than 50 tangible outcomes, including agreed frameworks, action plans, guidelines, principles, forums and networks, across the four priority pillars of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. India's chairship has been pitched as people-centric under the theme of humanity first, with results meant to reach women, farmers and entrepreneurs.

The summit has been organised as a whole-of-nation effort involving the central government, states, institutions, industry, academia, youth, civil society and communities, with events spread across more than 30 cities. Engagement through the year has spanned over 400 planned meetings, reflecting what officials describe as India's convening and consensus-building strength.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting leaders, ministers and officials from 32 countries and agencies. Among those attending are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is not travelling, having visited in February for the AI summit, and is sending Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vietnam Prime Minister Lee Minh Hung will attend as representatives of partner countries.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has declined to attend as BIMSTEC chair, while Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr is coming as ASEAN chair and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani as chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and New Development Bank President Dilma Rousseff are also expected.

BRICS originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia joining in 2025. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became partner countries last year. The grouping now accounts for about 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of global GDP and roughly 26 per cent of world trade.