Big win for India: Terror stand gets global backing

BRICS leaders seek reforms to reflect changing global economic realities

The BRICS New Delhi Declaration, adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit on Saturday, has given strong political backing to India’s positions on terrorism and a greater voice for the Global South in global decision-making. The declaration condemned in the strongest terms the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed. It described acts of terrorism as “criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed.”

BRICS leaders urged “zero tolerance for terrorism” and rejected “double standards in countering terrorism.” They specifically called for action against the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens, and said all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable under national and international law. The grouping also called for concerted action against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities and urged the expeditious finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework.

On global governance, the declaration reiterated support for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient and to increase the representation of developing countries. China and Russia, as permanent members of the Security Council, reiterated their support for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations, including the Security Council.

The leaders also called for reform of the Bretton Woods institutions so that the voice and representation of emerging markets and developing economies reflect their relative position in the global economy.

They backed greater representation of developing countries in the IMF and World Bank and more transparent, merit-based leadership selection processes.

On trade, BRICS expressed serious concern over unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules. The declaration reaffirmed support for a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core and called for the immediate restoration of a fully functioning two-tier binding dispute settlement mechanism. It also condemned unilateral coercive measures, including economic and secondary sanctions, as contrary to international law.

Beyond geopolitics, the declaration outlined practical cooperation on cross-border payments and local currencies, startups and MSMEs, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, health, agriculture, energy, hydrogen and critical minerals. It supported faster, cheaper and more secure cross-border payments while recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, welcomed the BRICS Incubator Network, and backed cooperation on smart grids, energy storage, hydrogen and resilient critical-mineral supply chains.

Adopted under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” the New Delhi Declaration positions BRICS, at its 20-year mark, as a platform for developing countries to demand a larger role in existing global institutions while deepening cooperation in trade, finance, technology and development.

BRICS HIGHLIGHTS

• Leaders plant great banyan tree saplings
• Leaders visit Bharat Innovates Exposition
• India Post releases commemorative postage stamps to mark two decades of BRICS
• Adopts New Delhi Declaration with consensus
• Seeks faster, safer cross-border payments
• Recognise women as decision-makers, growth drivers
• BRICS urges IMF, World Bank reforms, hits unilateral tariffs and sanctions

Xi brings top aides Cai Qi, Wang Yi to India

New Delhi: Underlining the importance of his visit to India for the BRICS summit and bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its sidelines, Chinese President Xi Jinping was accompanied by two of the most influential and powerful figures in his political and foreign-policy establishment. They are Cai Qi and Wang Yi.

More than 400 other delegates, including business leaders, also came along with the Chinese President, who landed here on Saturday. The selection of his entourage for the two-day visit signified Beijing’s positive intentions to strengthen ties with New Delhi.

Their presence alongside Xi assumes significance as the Chinese president returns to India after seven years, at a time when New Delhi and Beijing are cautiously working to stabilise ties after years of tensions.