BRICS Summit in New Delhi signals shift toward multipolar world order

The 18th BRICS Summit, held in New Delhi under India’s chairship, highlighted a shift toward a multipolar international system. The New Delhi Declaration emphasized the need for reforms in global governance, the promotion of national currencies, and the enhanced role of the New Development Bank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the Global South should act as rule-makers rather than rule-takers.

The summit also addressed the Middle East conflict, calling for restraint and humanitarian protection, while taking a specific stance in favor of a ceasefire and the prevention of forced displacement in Gaza. The varying positions of member states, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, reflect the diverse interests within the bloc.

Concurrently, Southeast Asian nations within ASEAN are showing increased interest in BRICS as a means to achieve strategic autonomy. This interest allows countries to diversify economic and diplomatic partnerships without adhering to a binary choice between Western and non-Western powers. For instance, the Philippines, represented by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., views the platform as a way to expand diplomatic options amid sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea.