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BRICS members expressed concern Saturday over growing risks of nuclear danger and conflict, calling for disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation in a joint declaration issued at a summit in India.
The 11-nation grouping, which includes China, Russia, Iran and India, also called for calm in the Middle East amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran war and continued violence in Gaza.
“We express deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia and, recalling our respective national positions, call for exercising maximum restraint, as well as avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation,” the New Delhi Declaration said.
The declaration also stressed the importance of conflict prevention efforts, including by addressing root causes.
BRICS called for halting any policies aimed at the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and expressed concern about arrangements that may legitimize or prolong occupation.
The group also voiced “deep concern” over continued violence in Gaza despite the October 2025 ceasefire agreement and called for full and unhindered humanitarian access to the Palestinian enclave.
Leaders of the BRICS grouping began their summit Saturday in India’s capital as the U.S.-Iran war stretched into its seventh month and the Russia-Ukraine war continued into its fifth year.
The summit comes amid broader global economic effects of the U.S.-Iran conflict, which has fueled an energy crisis and raised concerns about energy security, trade and inflation.
On the eve of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope for “positive” and “meaningful” discussions.
China said it looked forward to “working with fellow BRICS countries to promote dialogue and negotiation to resolve differences, and jointly safeguard regional and global peace and stability.”
The 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit brings together leaders and senior officials from the expanded grouping of 11 countries, including longtime members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, the origin of the BRICS name, as well as newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
On the first day, leaders opened the summit with a closed-door session for BRICS member countries titled “Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.”
They were also scheduled to visit the Bharat Innovates Exhibition, take part in a tree-planting ceremony and attend a gala dinner hosted by Modi.
Among those attending are Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Russian President Vladimir Putin, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Brazil is being represented by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, while Saudi Arabia is represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
Indian official sources said BRICS leaders had “reached a consensus on a joint statement” amid Middle East tensions involving Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, all members of the grouping.
The group has also welcomed partner countries into the framework, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
Other attendees include Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Djamshid Kuchkarov.
Thailand is represented by Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Cuba by Prime Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Belarus by Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov, Uruguay by Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin and Bahrain by Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
On the second day of the summit, leaders will attend an open session titled “Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability: Shaping the Future for Inclusive Global Growth.”
According to figures cited by BRICS, the group now represents about 49.5% of the world’s population, 40% of global GDP and 26% of global trade.
The previous summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
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