BRICS Summit in New Delhi addresses Middle East tensions

At the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, themed ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, leaders addressed escalating hostilities in the Middle East. A joint declaration expressed “deep concern” regarding the conflict and urged all parties to exercise “maximum restraint.”

China’s president advocated for the bloc to serve as a peacemaker, stating that the war “does not serve the common interests of the international community.” While the declaration emphasized resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy, the wording remained cautious due to the divergent regional alignments of member states, which now include nations such as Iran and the UAE.

Beyond regional security, the summit focused on multilateral reform, digital transformation, and economic alternatives to Western-led frameworks. Key developments included the launch of the BRICS Pay system and the expansion of the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA). Additionally, the summit highlighted varying levels of engagement from Southeast Asian nations, with Indonesia advocating for Global South unity and national self-reliance.