The statement also stressed the need to maintain the smooth, unhindered flow of global trade, supply chains, and energy markets, in accordance with applicable international law. Officials noted the declaration landed days before Iran meets Gulf counterparts on the Strait of Hormuz situation, giving the restraint language immediate real-world stakes (Times of India, September 2026).
Terrorism, Pahalgam, and Palestine
The declaration strongly condemned any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed, and specifically reiterated condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. It reaffirmed commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing, and safe havens (Times of India, September 2026).
On Palestine, BRICS countries including India expressed deep concern over continued violence in Gaza despite the ceasefire agreement of October 2025. The declaration called for halting any policies aimed at forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and expressed concern regarding arrangements that may prejudice the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people or legitimize or prolong occupation (Times of India, WION, September 2026).
UN Reform and What Was Left Out
China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, reiterated their support for Brazil and India to play a greater role at the UN, including the Security Council. The declaration backed comprehensive reform of the world body to make it more democratic, representative, effective, and efficient, with increased representation for developing countries in the Council's membership (Times of India, September 2026).
Two omissions stand out. The declaration did not mention the Ukraine war at all this year, and it avoided naming any country in its West Asia language. Modi framed the summit's larger message as the Global South transitioning from rule-takers to rule-shapers, saying the technology of the future and the construction of its rules should be equal for the Global South (WION, The News Minute, September 2026).
New Delhi Declaration Key Points Table
| Topic | What the declaration says |
|---|
| West Asia | Deep concern over continued escalation; call for maximum restraint; no countries named |
| Nuclear facilities | Serious concern over deliberate attacks on IAEA-safeguarded civilian and nuclear sites, in violation of international law |
| Terrorism | Condemns all acts as criminal and unjustifiable; reiterates condemnation of the Pahalgam attack |
| Palestine | Concern over Gaza violence despite the October 2025 ceasefire; opposes forced displacement; two-state solution backed |
| UN reform | Comprehensive reform including the Security Council; more developing-country representation; China and Russia back Brazil and India |
| Trade and energy | Smooth flow of global trade, supply chains, and energy stressed under international law |
| Ukraine | Not mentioned in the 2026 declaration |
What Comes Next
Iran meets Gulf counterparts on the Strait of Hormuz situation on September 14 in Oman, the first test of whether the restraint language holds. China takes the BRICS chairship in 2027, and the bloc's finance track continues to prioritize reducing reliance on the US dollar after the New Delhi sessions. For students following current affairs, the declaration's consensus formula of strong language with zero names mirrors the technique India used at the 2023 G20 Delhi declaration, which called upon all states to refrain from the use of force for territorial acquisition without naming Russia (Times of India, Al Jazeera, September 2026).
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, CC BY, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/2024_BRICS_Summit_%281729766941%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=original)
Fazlur Rahman
