The leaders of the BRICS countries have issued a declaration, committing to strengthening cooperation in the expanded alliance on political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people matters. The leaders reaffirm their commitment to fostering inclusive, mutually beneficial, and development-oriented partnership with Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) that are partner countries to BRICS cooperation.
Initially comprised of Brazil, the Russian Federation, India, China, and South Africa, the recently expanded alliance now also includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Viet Nam are BRICS partner countries.
The 18th BRICS Summit convened in New Delhi, India, from 12-13 September 2026 under the theme, ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.’
Enjoying this article? Make sure you always catch our coverage by subscribing to our SDG Update newsletter.
Addressing the Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said a multipolar world helps “bring balance and equity to global systems,” highlighting the need to reform global multilateral institutions. He called upon the BRICS Summit participants to build for resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability by:
- Implementing the Sevilla Commitment and reforming the global financial architecture;
- Supporting global governance of artificial intelligence (AI);
- Over-delivering on national climate plans; and
- Safeguarding international peace.
The New Delhi Declaration reiterates the BRICS leaders’ commitment to enhancing the bloc’s strategic partnership through the promotion of peace, a more representative international order, a reinvigorated and reformed multilateral system, sustainable development, and inclusive growth. Highlighting “the need to adapt the current architecture of international relations to better reflect the contemporary realities,” it reaffirms the leaders’ commitment to strengthening multilateralism and multipolarity and promoting cooperation based on solidarity, mutual respect, justice, and equality while respecting national circumstances and the diversity of national systems and development pathways.
The Declaration underscores the key role of the Group of 20 (G20) as “the premier global forum for international economic cooperation that provides a platform for dialogue [among] emerging and developed economies.”
On the environment, the leaders reaffirm their commitment to strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, “reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances.”
The leaders underscore their commitment to integrated protection and systematic management of mountains, water resources, forests, peatland and mangroves, farmlands, grasslands, and deserts, and look forward to advancing progress and discussions to accelerate implementation of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) at the 2026 UN Water Conference in December.
The expanded BRICS alliance accounts for 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and 26% of international trade.
As the 2027 chair of the bloc, China will host the 19th BRICS Summit. [BRICS India 2026]