Global Powers Converge: BRICS Summit Closes with Landmark New Delhi Declaration

The 18th BRICS Summit successfully concluded in New Delhi, India, on September 13, 2026, under India's Presidency. Held over two days, September 12-13, the summit convened BRICS leaders to deliberate on the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability." A key outcome of the summit was the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration, a significant document reaffirming the bloc's unwavering commitment to fostering cooperation, championing inclusive development, and advancing a more representative and responsive international order.

The New Delhi Declaration underscored fundamental principles such as mutual respect and understanding, sovereign equality, solidarity, democracy, openness, inclusiveness, collaboration, and consensus. It meticulously outlined shared priorities and charted the future direction for BRICS cooperation, aiming to strengthen the collective impact of the member nations on the global stage.

A notable participant at the summit was Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who passionately advocated for enhanced partnerships within BRICS and deeper engagement with the African continent. Prime Minister Abiy highlighted the immense potential of the BRICS bloc to seamlessly connect capital, advanced technology, and expansive markets with the abundant resources and burgeoning opportunities available in its member and partner economies. In a message shared on his social media platforms, he articulated, "Across BRICS, we have capital, technology and markets. The opportunity is to bring them together, create more value, and ensure that value is generated where resources are found."

During his address, Prime Minister Abiy reiterated Ethiopia's keen readiness to broaden cooperation, particularly in critical sectors such as minerals, renewable energy, and manufacturing. He further emphasized the paramount importance of building resilience, accelerating economic transformation, and intensifying climate action efforts across the bloc. His call for stronger cooperation among BRICS members and greater engagement with Africa underscored the necessity for emerging global partnerships to yield tangible and beneficial opportunities for developing economies worldwide.

Beyond the plenary sessions, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed engaged in a series of high-level bilateral meetings. These included discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. These crucial engagements focused on exploring avenues to deepen bilateral and economic cooperation, encompassing investment, trade, technology transfer, regional affairs, and other areas of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Abiy also actively participated in a closed session dedicated to "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism." In this session, BRICS leaders addressed the pressing need for a global governance system that is more inclusive, representative, and responsive to contemporary challenges. Discussions within this forum specifically centered on critical reforms for the United Nations system, the international financial architecture, and the multilateral trading system. These discussions clearly reflected the growing demands from the Global South for greater representation and a stronger, more equitable voice in crucial international decision-making processes.

The summit also provided a robust platform for business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, including representatives from the BRICS Business Council and the BRICS Women's Business Alliance. Their presence highlighted the increasingly vital role of the private sector in driving trade, investment, and broader economic cooperation among BRICS nations and beyond.

In its entirety, the 18th BRICS Summit, culminating with the New Delhi Declaration, concluded with a renewed and vigorous emphasis on resilience, innovation, economic cooperation, and sustainable development. It significantly reinforced BRICS' evolving and influential role in shaping a more inclusive, balanced, and multipolar global order.