Building consensus: On the 18th BRICS Summit, the New Delhi Declaration - The Hindu

**Building consensus at the 18th BRICS Summit: The New Delhi Declaration**

The 18th BRICS summit, held in Johannesburg, concluded with the adoption of the **New Delhi Declaration**, a document that reflects a broad consensus among the five members on economic cooperation, sustainable development, and the strategic use of emerging technologies. Drafted under the stewardship of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the declaration underscores the bloc’s commitment to “prevent the weaponisation of critical technologies and minerals,” a phrase that resonated after China announced a temporary ban on the export of rare‑earth elements and other raw materials essential for semiconductor and defence industries. The declaration calls for the creation of a **Technology and Critical Materials Forum** within BRICS to facilitate transparent trade, joint research, and the diversification of supply chains away from any single source.

Domestically, the summit’s outcomes have sparked a mixture of praise and criticism. While the ruling party has highlighted Modi’s diplomatic finesse in nudging both China and the United States toward restraint, opposition figures seized on a separate incident: former cricketer‑turned‑commentator Ravi Shastri’s social‑media post lauding the prime minister’s leadership was rebuked by the Congress party as “not IPL commentary” and an attempt to politicise sports. Nevertheless, analysts from *The Indian Express* argue that the broader diplomatic achievement—expanding BRICS’s engagement with Global South economies and securing a collective stance on technology governance—marks a strategic win for India’s foreign policy agenda.

International observers note that the New Delhi Declaration could reshape global governance of high‑tech resources. By proposing shared standards and joint investment in alternative sources of critical minerals, BRICS aims to reduce dependence on any one nation and mitigate the risk of “technology weaponisation” that could destabilise supply chains and heighten geopolitical tensions. The declaration also reaffirms the bloc’s support for multilateralism, climate action, and inclusive growth, signalling a coordinated front that may influence future negotiations at the United Nations and other global fora.