The BRICS summit in New Delhi adopted a joint declaration on September 12, 2026, calling for restraint amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and reaffirming support for diplomacy. The statement also raised concerns about unilateral trade restrictions.
The official New Delhi Declaration records the members’ shared language, while Reuters reported its unanimous adoption on the first day of the leaders’ summit. The agreement is a diplomatic statement of positions; it does not itself establish a ceasefire or announce that regional hostilities have ended.
BRICS summit statement calls for restraint
The declaration urges members of the international community to avoid actions that worsen tensions in West Asia. It calls for protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and for dialogue aimed at longer-term stability.
Its language acknowledges the participants’ respective national positions. That qualification matters in a grouping whose members do not necessarily take identical approaches to each conflict. The statement expresses common ground without claiming to erase those differences.
Reuters highlighted the difficulty of reaching consensus in a bloc that includes both Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The adopted wording places emphasis on restraint and diplomatic engagement.
Trade and supply chains also feature
The declaration voices concern about unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that members regard as distorting trade. It also stresses the importance of maintaining trade, supply-chain and energy flows in accordance with applicable international law.
These are the participating governments’ stated positions. The document should not be read as an independent legal ruling on every trade measure or as evidence that existing restrictions have been removed.
Modi and Xi hold bilateral talks
Alongside the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 12. India’s official account says they reviewed progress in relations since their August 2025 meeting in Tianjin and supported a long-term approach to bilateral ties.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Modi emphasised peace in border areas as a basis for the continued development of relations. Its account also described discussions on business links, cultural exchanges, mobility, structural trade imbalances and supply-chain concerns.
Reuters separately reported Xi’s call for a strategic, long-term view of ties, citing China’s Xinhua news agency. The Chinese leader also advocated a BRICS role in promoting peace in the Middle East, according to Reuters’ account of state media reporting.
Statements set out intentions, not completed outcomes
The summit declaration and bilateral readout describe commitments and priorities. Neither should be presented as confirmation that the India-China boundary question has been settled or that all trade concerns have been resolved.
For India, the current development is the adoption of a common summit statement alongside direct leader-level engagement with China. Any subsequent agreement, implementation timetable or change on the ground requires its own confirmation.
