Hats off to India. Notwithstanding the devastating, disruptive & unending conflicts in Europe & West Asia and tense relationship between Iran & UAE, she has succeeded in producing a Consensus Joint Statement: The Delhi Declaration. It sends out a strong message against US’s unilateral tariffs & coercive sanctions, Israeli attacks, Pakistan’s role in cross border terrorism, EU’s plans for a carbon tax & weaponisation of critical minerals & technologies by China without naming them. It also lays down a road map for BRICS. Indian PM advocated inclusivity in technology adoption and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence to support human values rather than division. Modi’s emphasis on “Make in India”” & “Make for the world”, people centric approach focusing on green technologies, AI, food & energy security, DPI, agri tech, Startups, semiconductors, farmers, MSMEs & women entrepreneurs was on expected lines.
His 10 points put constitute a practical action plan for BRICS and a blue print for the global governance. He stressed the need of immediate, time bound, text-based negotiation for the reforms of the UNSC and restructuring of the IMF & the World Bank and strengthening of the WTO. (Unless China comes on board, India’s entry in the UNSC is unlikely. And without American nod, IMF, World Bank & WTO can’t be reformed) He urged that global organisations should become open platforms of partnership to address vulnerabilities of the Global South rather than remain outdated “pyramids of privilege”. He wants that developing countries become active rule shapers at the forefront of global decision -making. (Noble thoughts but those sitting on the high table don’t believe in philanthropy) He felt that G-20 like Troika for pursuing deadlines, nodal points, implementation status of Groups decisions managed through a Digital Repository could benefit BRICS. The need of a dedicated Cooperative Framework to guarantee safe sea lanes, secure maritime transport & emergency aid to seafarers underlined by Modi is obvious but can it happen without Iran & the US coming on board? His suggestion to identify and remove ten internal trade barriers, promote 100 startups every year and forge 1000 cross border business partnerships can’t be faulted. Results will follow if BRICS members act on it. One witnessed a reset of India’s approach towards Iran and developments in Gaza.
India’s role in smoothening sharp edges and acting as a bridge between the UAE & Iran paved the way for the consensus statement. While Modi maintained his warmth, bonhomie & personal chemistry with Putin & Xi Jinping, substantial issues were discussed at bilateral meetings candidly & pragmatically. Keeping in mind her consequential relations with the US & the EU, India stalled attempts to give BRICS an anti-West tilt. India can be legitimately proud of the outcome of the 18th BRICS Summit. It speaks volumes about the imaginative leadership of PM Narendra Modi & diplomatic, negotiating & drafting skills of Indian diplomats under the guidance of the EAM & the FS who have, themselves, been distinguished diplomats. India insisted on & secured the reiteration of zero tolerance of cross border terrorism and accountability of the states that sponsor it & got a specific condemnation of terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam in April 2025 included in the text. This was particularly noteworthy for the fact that Pakistan’s all-weather friend, China, went along with this condemnation. The ticklish issue of Iran & UAE’s accusations against each other was dealt with persuasive use of phrases which each side could live with.
While expressing concerns at escalation of tension in West Asia & exhorting all involved parties to exercise maximum restraint, it called for protection of civilians & civilian infrastructure, civilian nuclear facilities, honouring sovereignty & territorial integrity and upholding of UN Charter. Both sides could claim that its core concerns have been covered. Modi’s Public display of warmth towards the beleaguered Iranian President & his meeting the Crown Prince of UAE nudged by India & specific mention of the situation in Gaza, Palestinian rights & eventual Two States solution bridged the gulf between Iran & UAE. Israel & USA too won’t have missed the message. The images of Pezeshkian walking hand in hand with Modi while the US was warning the whole world against doing business with Iran conveyed to USA that it’s diktats weren’t acceptable; Iran might have felt, it wasn’t alone. According to Nirupama Rao, former Foreign Secretary & former Amb.to China’’BRICS matters to India not because it peddles a replacement world order, but because it helps prevent any single power or coalition from monopolising the existing one. It provides India more room for manoeuvre, in an age of unstable multipolarity. MJ Akbar, former MOS (EA) finds the mention of the Bandung spirit and the Bandung principles of 1956 very interesting. (Was Indonesia instrumental for this?) He also finds strong references to Palestine—that the people of Palestine have an inherent right to live in their own space, that the character of Jerusalem cannot be changed, noteworthy.
Former EAM, Salman Khurshid felt,” Certainly, there are dimensions to this joint statement that one can receive with great satisfaction. There is a clear statement that condemns what happened in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, condemns cross-border terrorism, and looks forward to a terrorist-free world. Also, the unilateral restrictions and unilateral sanctions that are imposed periodically without UN backing, etc. The support that has been given to Gaza and to the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, I think that’s important” One wonders whether the push back on India’s silence on Israeli & American attacks on Iran and horrific conditions in Gaza & it’s possible negative impact on the coming elections might have provoked a diplomatic reset. For the former I&B Minister Smriti Irani: The New Delhi Declaration marks an important moment in the evolution of BRICS, and in the continuing rebalancing of the global order. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Dr Shashi Tharoor has hailed the Delhi Declaration as a “huge achievement’’.
