NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh Monday hailed New Delhi Brics declaration passed unanimosly, saying the unison adaptation was an “statement of India’s growing global influence” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Calling “inclusive and human-centric approach” an hallmark of the summit, the defence minister laid emphasis on how the bloc put Global South “at the centre, not at the margins, championing a more inclusive, representative and balanced world order”.“Rooted in our civilisational ethos of Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam, India has once again shown that leadership is not about having the loudest voice, but the strongest consensus,” the Union minister said, adding: “As India leads, the world listens.”In a dramatic echo of the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, Brics countries agreed on a joint declaration after intensive negotiations that continued until 4 am on Saturday. The talks were complicated by differences between Iran and the UAE over the West Asia conflict. An earlier meeting of Brics foreign ministers under India’s presidency had also ended without a joint statement.The 140-paragraph New Delhi Declaration was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a rare meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of the summit. The meeting took place as the conflict continued and helped ease the differences threatening consensus.The declaration used carefully balanced language to address the concerns of both countries. It expressed serious concern over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities operating under full International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, describing such actions as violations of international law and relevant IAEA resolutions. The wording amounted to an implicit criticism of US and Israeli strikes on Iran and was important in securing Tehran’s approval.The leaders also recalled their respective national positions on West Asia and stressed the need to maintain the smooth movement of global trade, supply chains and energy in line with international law.
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Official sources said India conducted prolonged negotiations at several levels to bridge the differences between Iran and the UAE. Other member-states also supported the effort, keen to ensure that the summit ended with a joint declaration rather than another failure to reach consensus.The agreement recalled the last-minute G20 declaration adopted in New Delhi in 2023 during the Russia-Ukraine war. That statement used carefully worded language urging countries not to use force to seize territory without directly naming Russia.
