Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, welcomed the declaration adopted during the recent BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi and emphasized the importance of global cooperation frameworks.
Emphasis on Multilateralism
Guterres stated at a press conference: "It is important that the BRICS summit produces a joint statement with a strong commitment to multilateralism and the United Nations." He added: "In this regard, it is reassuring that many major global powers believe that multilateralism is a way to address crises, and the United Nations should be at the center of these efforts."
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Presence of Major Powers
The UN Secretary-General noted the absence of all permanent members of the UN Security Council at this summit and emphasized the importance of the major powers present. The summit was attended by Xi Jinping, President of China, and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, as representatives of the permanent members of the Security Council. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, chaired the summit, and Mauro Vieira, the Foreign Minister of Brazil, represented countries seeking permanent seats on the Security Council.
Western countries, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, stayed away from the summit, while emerging countries emphasized the need to increase their influence in international institutions that have historically been dominated by Western powers.
The administration of Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, positioned itself against multilateral approaches and instead adopted unilateral policies aimed at diminishing the prominence of the United Nations and other international institutions. Trump views the BRICS bloc as a challenge to his goal of maintaining the global power structure under U.S. leadership.
The 18th BRICS summit concluded in the national capital with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026 on September 12. This declaration emphasizes extensive cooperation in global health and a shared commitment to global health coverage using resilient and inclusive measures.
The declaration states: "We recognize the importance of continued cooperation among BRICS members and the necessity of sharing valuable experiences, innovations, and best practices to improve health outcomes in BRICS countries. We believe that multilateral cooperation in health must be maintained and strengthened, and the coordinating role of the World Health Organization is of utmost importance."
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