BRICS Adopts New Delhi Declaration After Bridging Iran-UAE Divide

Gist The 11-member BRICS grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration under India's chairmanship after successfully negotiating a last-minute compromise between Iran and the UAE over language concerning the conflict in West Asia. By issuing a consensus statement that calls for "maximum restraint" without specifically condemning individual bilateral strikes, the expanded bloc projected unity and countered narratives of being an exclusively "anti-Western" platform. For an aspirant, this highlights India's diplomatic capacity to navigate and mediate between newly admitted Middle Eastern rivals within multilateral forums to keep the grouping functional. Background Originally formed 20 years ago as an economic platform for emerging markets Brazil, Russia, India, China, and later South Africa , BRICS has recently expanded to an 11-member bloc, adding geopolitically diverse nations including Iran , the UAE , Egypt , and Ethiopia . Because decisions are made by consensus, integrating rival Middle Eastern powers has made drafting joint statements increasingly difficult; earlier ministerial meetings this year failed to issue joint texts due to the ongoing Iran-UAE diplomatic tussle. The Sherpa track currently led by India's Sudhakar Dalela conducts the complex,…