The BRICS leaders unanimously approved the New Delhi Declaration, in which they express deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and call for maximum restraint from all parties involved, avoiding actions that could further aggravate the situation. The document was signed by the 11 leaders of the bloc and approved in the main hall of the Bharat Mandapam convention centre in New Delhi.
The declaration demands the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Among the 140 points of the document, the leaders stressed that it is essential to maintain the steady flow of global trade, supply chains, and energy, although the Strait of Hormuz was not directly mentioned.
The leaders also condemned the imposition of unilateral coercive measures contrary to international law, including unilateral and secondary economic sanctions, warning that such measures have profound negative implications for human rights.
The approval of the document resolved some outstanding questions before the meeting, with consensus being the main challenge of the gathering, given that 11 countries with different positions on major international conflicts were represented, such as the war in the Middle East and in Ukraine. The BRICS bloc includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia.
