New Delhi, Sept. 13: BRICS leaders have warned that growing global polarisation, distrust and fragmentation are deepening security risks and called for stronger diplomatic efforts to prevent conflicts, address their root causes and reinforce a more representative international order.
The concerns formed a central part of the 2026 New Delhi Declaration adopted unanimously at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday. The declaration urged countries to rely on dialogue, consultation, mediation and diplomacy to reduce the potential for conflict and reaffirmed that security among nations is indivisible.
The leaders called for greater international cooperation in conflict prevention, including through regional organisations, UN peacekeeping missions, African Union peace support operations, mediation and peace processes. They stressed that preventive diplomacy and mediation, with the consent of the parties concerned, should be used to prevent crises from escalating, in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
The declaration also voiced concern over continuing conflicts and what the leaders described as increasing polarisation and fragmentation in the international order. They expressed alarm over the rise in global military spending, warning that the trend could come at the expense of adequate financing for development in developing countries.
On global governance, BRICS members reaffirmed their commitment to reforming and improving the international and multilateral system to make it more just, equitable, effective, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable. The leaders said the international system must better reflect contemporary realities while upholding international law and the UN Charter.
They stressed the need for greater and more meaningful participation of Emerging Market and Developing Countries and Least Developed Countries in global decision-making structures. Particular emphasis was placed on countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The leaders also called for equitable geographical representation in the UN Secretariat and other international organisations, citing the persistent under-representation of developing countries, including at senior and decision-making levels. They sought greater participation of women, particularly from emerging market and developing economies, across leadership and other responsibilities in international organisations.
BRICS further called for greater transparency and inclusiveness in the selection and appointment of UN executive heads and senior officials. It said recruitment should follow the provisions of Article 101 of the UN Charter, including geographical considerations and increased participation of women, while rejecting any monopoly over senior UN positions by nationals of a single country or group of countries.
The declaration said developing countries should intensify dialogue and consultations to advance more equitable global governance and mutually beneficial relations. BRICS members also positioned multipolarity as an avenue for emerging and developing economies to expand their role in global economic cooperation.
The leaders identified the Global South as an important driver of change amid geopolitical tensions, economic downturns, technological shifts, protectionist measures, migration-related challenges and climate change. They said BRICS would continue to articulate the concerns and priorities of the Global South while supporting a more inclusive, representative and stable international order based on international law.
The declaration also addressed nuclear risks, with BRICS leaders calling for renewed efforts on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. They backed nuclear-weapon-free zones and stressed the importance of implementing resolutions aimed at establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
The leaders also urged all invited parties to participate in the related conference in good faith and noted the adoption by the UN General Assembly of Resolution 79/241 on a comprehensive study of nuclear-weapon-free zones.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted the summit, said BRICS remained driven by cooperation and committed to building a more inclusive and prosperous world. He announced the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026 and said the responsibility now lay with member countries to translate its commitments into concrete results.
The two-day summit at Bharat Mandapam brought together leaders of BRICS member and partner countries as well as outreach invitees. During the summit, Modi and other leaders also took part in a joint tree plantation initiative and the traditional family photograph.
The summit was held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”. The leaders also discussed regional and global issues and priorities linked to strengthening cooperation within BRICS.
