Tuesday 08 / September / 2026
New Delhi: BRICS Sherpas met in New Delhi on Sunday and Monday to finalise the draft Delhi Declaration and bridge differences among member countries, particularly over references to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The meetings came ahead of the 18th BRICS summit in Delhi this weekend, with member states seeking to ensure that the grouping adopts a consensus document despite differences that surfaced during earlier ministerial-level discussions.
Differences between Iran and the UAE had prevented BRICS foreign and trade ministers from issuing joint statements earlier. The Sherpas have since been working to reach common ground on the language of the Delhi Declaration, particularly regarding the West Asia conflict and the Palestinian issue.
The declaration is expected to contain references to the war in West Asia and the Palestinian question. India has also advocated stronger language on combating terrorism and reforming multilateral institutions, including the United Nations.
Discussions are also focusing on the wording concerning unilateral sanctions imposed by individual countries. BRICS members are expected to explore greater use of national currencies in intra-group trade, along with future projects of the BRICS New Development Bank.
The summit, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the formation of BRICS, is expected to advance a broader people-centric agenda covering energy security, resilient supply chains, startups, innovation funds and the internationalisation of micro, small and medium enterprises.
With geopolitical conflicts continuing to disrupt global supply chains, members are also expected to consider a Logistics Supply-Chain Cooperation Framework aimed at strengthening the resilience, efficiency and sustainability of transport logistics and supply chains across sectors.
Meanwhile, security preparations have intensified across the National Capital Region ahead of the summit. An inter-state coordination meeting was held on Monday to review security, law-and-order and traffic arrangements.
The meeting, chaired by Eastern Range Joint Commissioner of Police Milind Mahadeo Dumbere, was attended by senior police officers from Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad. Officials discussed measures to ensure close coordination between neighbouring districts during the summit.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also chaired a Consultative Committee meeting on India’s relations with West Asia on Monday. He highlighted India’s longstanding ties with the Gulf and the wider West Asian region, as well as government efforts concerning the welfare of around 10 million Indians living there.
The discussions also covered energy and fertiliser security, trade and connectivity amid the continuing conflict in the region.
