BRICS Summit Concludes in New Delhi, Leaders Issue Declaration on Mideast Tensions
The 18th BRICS Summit wrapped up in New Delhi with a joint declaration urging restraint in the Middle East; European Council President Costa embarks on a 'Tour des Capitales'.
The conversation that mattered
The 18th BRICS Summit concluded in New Delhi, India, over September 12-13, 2026, bringing together leaders from the expanded 11-nation bloc. The summit culminated in the "New Delhi Declaration," which expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and West Asia, calling for "maximum restraint" and condemning unilateral military action and sanctions not authorized by the United Nations.
Host Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in several key bilateral meetings on the sidelines, including with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss boosting bilateral trade, defense, energy, and critical minerals. Modi also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where both leaders stressed the importance of peace and tranquility in border areas and welcomed progress in bilateral relations.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also held talks with PM Modi, focusing on protecting freedom of navigation and commerce, and ensuring regional peace and stability. The declaration further rejected attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution. Looking ahead, the European Arctic Summit will convene in Rovaniemi, Finland, on September 14, with European Council President António Costa scheduled to attend.
Today's meetings
President António Costa (European Council)
Actor Two: Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (Finland)
Venue Or Format: Rovaniemi, Finland
What Was Discussed: Discussions on the EU agenda, including the next long-term EU budget, and preparations for upcoming European Council meetings.
Signal: Signals the start of President Costa's final week of visits to EU member states to discuss the bloc's future direction.
President Donald Trump (United States)
Actor Two: Prime Minister Micheál Martin (Ireland)
Venue Or Format: Dublin, Ireland
What Was Discussed: President Trump stated that a unified Ireland would be "fantastic," wading into a politically sensitive topic.
Signal: Trump's comments on Irish reunification could spark further debate, differing from previous US presidential approaches.
President Masoud Pezeshkian (Iran)
Actor Two: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (UAE)
Venue Or Format: Sidelines of BRICS Summit, New Delhi
What Was Discussed: Regional and international issues, emphasizing de-escalation efforts, reducing tensions, and achieving stability.
Signal: Indicates diplomatic engagement between Iran and the UAE despite regional tensions, seeking common ground on stability.
Joint statements + readouts
BRICS Nations
Topic: Middle East Tensions and Global Governance
Key Line: 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.
Vietnam and France
Topic: Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and International Law
Key Line: Vietnam and France reaffirm their commitment to joint action aimed at restoring a stable and prosperous world order that fully respects international law and the UN Charter.
Multilateral pulse
UN Security Council. On September 11, the Security Council extended the 1591 Sudan sanctions regime for one month to allow for more negotiations. It also held a briefing to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, discussing threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.
BRICS Summit. The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi focused on "Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism" during its closed session, with leaders discussing the need for a more inclusive global governance architecture and strengthening cooperation among developing nations.
Bilateral threads worth following
India ↔ China
Current State: Working towards resolving border disputes and reducing trade imbalances.
Last Move: PM Modi and President Xi Jinping held bilateral talks on September 12 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, welcoming steady progress since their August 2025 meeting.
India ↔ Russia
Current State: Enhancing cooperation in trade, defense, energy, and critical minerals.
Last Move: PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 11 for wide-ranging talks ahead of the BRICS Summit.
India ↔ Iran
Current State: Discussing regional peace and the protection of maritime navigation.
Last Move: PM Modi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on September 11, emphasizing the need to protect freedom of navigation and commerce.
US ↔ Ireland
Current State: Discussions on political issues, including the reunification of Ireland.
Last Move: President Donald Trump, during his visit on September 12, stated that a unified Ireland would be "fantastic" after meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.
Iran ↔ UAE
Current State: Engaging in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tensions and enhance stability.
Last Move: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on September 12 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, discussing regional de-escalation.
What we'll be watching next 72h
- European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, Finland (September 14, 2026), with European Council President António Costa and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
- Informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for cohesion policy (September 14-15, 2026).
- European Council President António Costa to meet with Chancellor Christian Stocker (Austria) in Vienna, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (Italy) in Rome, and President Emmanuel Macron (France) in Paris (September 15, 2026).
- G20 Energy Abundance Ministerial in Houston, Texas (September 14-16, 2026).
- Atlantic Council event: "Pathways to partnership, prosperity, and security in the Sahel" (September 15, 2026).
- Chatham House event: "BRICS and the future of global power" (September 16, 2026).
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.