Leaders of the BRICS bloc have agreed on a joint declaration condemning unilateral military action and unprovoked aggression, while calling for restraint and diplomatic efforts to resolve conflicts.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agreement was reached on Saturday during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, following intensive negotiations among the group’s 11 member states. The declaration did not single out any country.
The statement called for regional stability, the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure, and opposition to the use or threat of force. It also backed dialogue, diplomacy and freedom of navigation.
The agreement came against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East, where the BRICS countries have sought to bridge differences among members, particularly Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
According to Channels Television, BRICS leaders expressed “deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions in Middle East/West Asia” and called for “maximum restraint” while urging parties to avoid actions capable of worsening the situation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping told the summit that the Middle East war “does not serve the common interests of the international community.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted the summit, also called for a stronger and more inclusive international system. Addressing the gathering, Modi said, “We have to transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership.”
The BRICS leaders also discussed trade, energy, global cooperation and the protection of international supply chains amid growing geopolitical tensions. The bloc called for a stronger voice for developing countries in major international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Nigeria participated in the summit as a BRICS partner country, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima representing President Bola Tinubu. Shettima is expected to use the summit to promote Nigeria’s investment opportunities, particularly in agriculture, technology and other non-oil sectors.
Speaking separately on the sidelines of the summit, Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for multilateralism and the World Trade Organisation.
“I believe the world is greater than one nation. We will continue to support the WTO in championing the cause of multilateralism. We are essentially one human family and interconnected. You cannot divorce yourself from the global community,” he said.
The 18th BRICS Summit is being held from September 12 to 13 under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”
