BRICS Summit 2026 LIVE updates: BRICS nations adopt New Delhi declaration - The Hindu

**BRICS Summit 2026 Concludes with Adoption of New Delhi Declaration**

*New Delhi, September 12 — *The six‑nation BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and, for the first time, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates as new members—wrapped up its 2026 summit in India’s capital with the unanimous adoption of the “New Delhi Declaration.” Heads of state and senior ministers gathered for two days of intensive negotiations, culminating in a joint statement that was formally signed at 4 a.m. local time after marathon talks that stretched into the early morning. The declaration, presented by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marks the bloc’s most comprehensive political and economic agenda to date.

The document condemns “unprovoked aggression” and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, echoing the bloc’s long‑standing criticism of Western sanctions. It also outlines a coordinated approach to reduce tariff barriers among members and to expand a BRICS‑wide digital payments network, aiming to lessen reliance on the U.S. dollar in cross‑border trade. A separate annex addresses nuclear safety, urging member states to enhance safeguards and to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear technology while warning of “escalating nuclear risks” in the current geopolitical climate. Notably, the inclusion of Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE—countries with historically divergent positions on the war in Europe—signaled a diplomatic breakthrough, with the three signing the declaration after “talks till 4 a.m.” as reported by local media.

Analysts view the New Delhi Declaration as a strategic pivot for BRICS, strengthening its role as an alternative platform for global governance and financial cooperation. By formalising a collective stance against what they term “unprovoked aggression” and by advancing a unified payments infrastructure, the bloc seeks to deepen intra‑regional trade and challenge the dominance of Western financial institutions. While the declaration has been welcomed by many developing economies, Western governments have warned that the move could further fragment the international system. The summit’s outcomes set the stage for the next round of BRICS summits, with a focus on implementing the digital payment framework and expanding membership beyond the current roster.