By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
BRICS leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to resolving global conflicts through dialogue, diplomacy and respect for international law, as the grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration at the conclusion of India’s chairship.
Briefing journalists after the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India’s BRICS Chair and Secretary (Economic Relations), Shri Sudhakar Dalela, said member states agreed that peaceful settlement of disputes, adherence to the UN Charter and diplomatic engagement should guide efforts to address international tensions.
“BRICS has very clearly articulated its preference for dialogue and diplomacy as a guiding parameter for addressing tension and conflict,” Dalela said, noting that the position was reflected in several provisions of the declaration.
He said BRICS members also reached consensus on issues concerning West Asia, stressing that lasting peace, security and stability could only be achieved through dialogue and diplomatic engagement.
According to him, India’s chairship provided a transparent platform for member countries to present their national positions and discuss areas of disagreement through dialogue and consensus-building.
Dalela said the New Delhi Declaration was the outcome of extensive consultations among members and demonstrated the bloc’s ability to bridge differences and reach common positions on sensitive geopolitical and security issues.
Beyond global conflicts, BRICS leaders reaffirmed their support for reform of global governance institutions, particularly the United Nations and the UN Security Council.
Dalela said the declaration backed a stronger role for emerging and developing countries, including those from Africa, Asia and Latin America, in global decision-making.
He noted that the declaration recognized the legitimate aspirations of African countries in UN reform while reiterating BRICS’ support for a greater role for India and Brazil in the United Nations, including the Security Council.
On the expansion of BRICS, Dalela said Egypt, despite being a relatively new member, had actively participated in the group’s activities and supported India’s chairship priorities.
He added that Egypt had made constructive contributions to consensus-building across various areas and was expected to play an increasingly important role in future BRICS cooperation.
Development cooperation was also highlighted as a key priority of the summit. Dalela said India’s chairship focused on areas with direct implications for citizens, including trade, investment, agriculture, healthcare, technology and innovation.
He said more than 50 practical outcomes were recorded under India’s chairship in areas including resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
The BRICS official also said the summit strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir last year, reaffirming the group’s opposition to terrorism.
Reflecting on India’s year-long chairship, Dalela said more than 350 meetings were organized across 22 ministerial tracks and working groups, covering virtually all major areas of BRICS cooperation.
He said the chairship also involved central and state governments, businesses, academia, youth organizations, civil society groups and local communities through programmes held in more than 30 cities across India.
Describing the tenure as a “people-centric chairship,” Dalela cited initiatives including the BRICS Solidarity Run, BRICS Film Festival, BRICS Youth Summit and BRICS Artisan Bazaar as efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties among member countries.
India also used the chairship to showcase its experience in digital public infrastructure, innovation, entrepreneurship, disaster resilience and traditional knowledge systems.
“The true measure of a chairship is not simply the number of meetings held, but the quality of participation, the ability to build consensus and the outcomes achieved,” Dalela said.
He added that the New Delhi Declaration and the practical outcomes recorded during India’s presidency had established a strong foundation for the next phase of BRICS cooperation.
Dalela thanked BRICS members and partner countries for their constructive participation, describing the New Delhi Declaration as a demonstration of partnership, unity, solidarity and consensus-building, while reaffirming the grouping’s commitment to peace, development and a more representative global order.
