Brics leaders unite on West Asia de-escalation, tariff concerns in joint statement

Brics members issued a unanimous joint statement on Saturday, the opening day of the two-day Brics Leadership Summit held under India's presidency, calling for de-escalation in West Asia, condemning the 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack, voicing concern over unilateral tariffs and pressing for reforms to global institutions.

The agreement marks a diplomatic success for New Delhi, which had been unable to secure a joint statement at the grouping's foreign ministers' meeting in May. That meeting concluded with India issuing a Chair's statement and an outcome document instead, after disagreements over the West Asia conflict laid bare divergent positions among members.

On the West Asian crisis, the declaration expressed concern over continued escalation and encouraged efforts through dialogue and diplomacy towards a long-term understanding that would contribute to lasting peace, security and stability. It stressed the need to work together to maintain the smooth flow of global trade, supply chains and energy in accordance with applicable international law. The group's 11 members include Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which are directly affected by the conflict triggered by the joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28.

The statement urged the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. It also raised concern over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under full IAEA safeguards, in violation of international law and relevant IAEA resolutions, adding that nuclear safeguards, safety and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts.

Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which 26 people were killed and many more injured, the group denounced terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable regardless of motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. It reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens, and reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. All those involved in terrorist activities and their supporters must be held accountable and brought to justice under relevant national and international law, it said.

On trade, the members flagged a proliferation of restrictive actions, whether tariffs, non-tariff measures or protectionism under the guise of environmental objectives, warning that these threaten to further cut global trade and disrupt international supply chains. They voiced serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules, and promised to work together to strengthen the multilateral trade body's responsiveness to trade disruptions. The group backed balanced, inclusive and concrete outcomes that bolster the multilateral trading system.

It also condemned unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law, including unilateral economic sanctions and secondary sanctions, noting their far-reaching negative implications for human rights, including the rights to development, health and food security of the general population of targeted states, and called for their elimination.

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pitch for reforms to international governance systems to reflect today's realities and give the Global South its due share in decision-making, the declaration called for inclusive global governance and strengthened multilateralism. Members pledged to bolster coordination to make international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund more representative, transparent and accountable, reiterating the urgent need to reform the Bretton Woods Institutions to make them more agile, effective, credible, inclusive, fit for purpose, unbiased, accountable and representative.

The group also sought to deepen cooperation on boosting the accessibility of artificial intelligence resources while ensuring its safety, security, inclusiveness and reliability, noting that leveraging AI for economic growth and social good while mitigating potential risks would be essential for a just, fair, equitable and prosperous future for all countries, especially those of the Global South.

Speaking at a press briefing after the leaders' session, Sudhakar Dalela, secretary (economic relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the leaders spoke from their respective national perspectives but there was broad convergence on the need to make global governance institutions more representative, inclusive, effective and responsive to today's realities. He added that the leaders reiterated support for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, greater representation of developing countries and reform of the international architecture to give developing countries and the Global South a stronger voice.

Initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia joining in 2025. The 11-member group accounts for half of the world's population, 40% of its gross domestic product and almost a quarter of its exports.