Sovereignty over mineral resources, greater access for countries in the Global South to artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, and changes in institutions responsible for global political and economic governance are among the key points of the New Delhi Declaration, approved this Saturday, the first day of the18th BRICS Summit in India.
With 140 points, the document sets common positions of the bloc on issues ranging from wars and economic sanctions to trade, payment systems, energy, and new technologies. The countries advocate for a "more representative and just" international order and once again demand greater participation from emerging economies in global decisions.
For researcher at the Brics Policy Center and professor at the Institute of International Relations at PUC, Marta Fernandez, one word helps characterize much of the document: resilience. According to her, the term and its variations appear more than 50 times in the declaration and express the bloc's concern to enhance the capacity of its members to cope with conflicts, sanctions, tariffs, climate crises, and disruptions in supply chains.
"Resilience appears to mean increasing the ability of BRICS countries to face conflicts, sanctions, tariffs, climate crises, and disruptions in supply chains, and reducing dependencies by diversifying partners and suppliers," Fernandez states.
In the researcher's opinion, this concern gains weight in light of the government ofDonald TrumpAnd the use of tariffs and technological restrictions as tools of geopolitical pressure. The pursuit of greater autonomy is evident in various aspects of the statement, from diversifying production chains to expanding the use of national currencies and the debate on AI.
The summit takes place at a time of expansion for the bloc. Under India's presidency, the BRICS currently comprises 11 members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. Together, they account for nearly half of the global population and around 40% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The expansion makes it more complex to build common positions, but also increases the economic and political weight of the grouping. The New Delhi Declaration combines a more cautious language on issues of international security with an attempt to advance mechanisms for financing, trade, technology, and productive chains.
The 18th BRICS Summit continues on Sunday, November 13. At the end of India's presidency, China will take over the leadership of the bloc and host the 19th summit in 2027.
Critical Minerals: Sovereignty and Value Addition
One section of the document discusses theCritical mineralsCritical raw materials essential for sectors such as energy, electronics, electric vehicles, and new technologies.
The countries advocate for "reliable, responsible, diversified, resilient, fair, and sustainable" supply chains, but add two conditions: value addition and economic diversification in rich countries for these resources, and the preservation of states' sovereignty over their mineral wealth.
The formulation does not restrict itself to the concern of consumer countries in ensuring access to lithium, rare earths, and other minerals. The document argues that countries where the deposits are located should also participate in the higher-value stages of the production chains, rather than limiting themselves to exporting raw materials.
Fernandez highlights the place occupied by the topic within the very structure of the declaration. The discussion about critical minerals appears immediately before the sections dedicated to industrialization and partnership for the new industrial revolution, which, in her view, strengthens the connection between access to natural resources and productive capacity.
The researcher, however, points out that the document still does not present instruments capable of ensuring this transition. "Concrete measures are still lacking to transform mineral resources into local production, technology transfer, jobs, and economic diversification," she states.
The declaration links critical minerals to energy security and the development of low-carbon emission technologies. At the same time, it acknowledges that oil, gas, coal, and other fossil fuels will continue to play a role in the energy matrix, especially in emerging economies, and advocates for an "equitable, orderly, just, and inclusive" energy transition.
Artificial Intelligence and Access for the Global South
The Brics states that AI offers opportunities for economic growth and development, but argues that the benefits of the technology cannot be concentrated in a few countries.
The declaration advocates for international cooperation to expand access to AI resources, with special attention to countries in the Global South.It calls for a fair, orderly, just, and inclusive energy transition.The text also mentions security, reliability, and the inclusion of technologies, as well as the need to make AI systems more efficient in energy consumption.
According to Fernandez, the statement reaffirms the bloc's previous commitments on the international governance of AI and advances by applying the debate to specific sectors. "The novelty is that AI now appears applied to sectors such as health, energy, industry, finance, and education," she states.
Another point highlighted by the researcher is the advocacy for a secure, inclusive, and interoperable digital public infrastructure. Interoperability, she explains, allows different systems to communicate and function together.
Fernandez cites Pix in Brazil and UPI in India as examples of digital public infrastructures capable of expanding access to services and reducing costs. She notes that the statement does not propose direct integration between the two systems but opens space for cooperation and exchange of experiences.
The researcher also draws attention to the material dimension of AI. "It has a material base, depends on data centers that consume large amounts of energy and water, as well as critical semiconductors and minerals," she says.
In her view, this expansion needs to be discussed alongside its social and environmental impacts and who controls the technologies. "For countries in the Global South, resilience cannot only mean providing energy and minerals for the global digital economy," she states.
More space for the Global South in the UN, IMF, and World Bank
The claim for changes in international governance is another thread of the declaration. The Brics group once again advocates for aA wide reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, to increase the representation of developing countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.China and Russia, both members of the permanent seat and veto-holding bloc in the Council, specifically reiterated their support for Brazil and India's aspirations to play a larger role in the UN, including in the Security Council.
The same argument is made regarding international financial institutions. The document states that the participation of emerging countries in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank should better reflect their current weight in the global economy and calls for reforms to the power structures established after World War II.
The declaration also incorporates a proposal presented by Brazil and South Africa for the creation of an international panel on inequality. The document asserts that inequality among and within countries lies at the root of a significant portion of the problems faced by the international development agenda.
Against unilateral tariffs and sanctions
Against unilateral tariffs and sanctions
According to the document, such policies can reduce global trade, disrupt productive chains, and widen inequalities among countries. The group also advocates for the full resumption of the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism.
The document states that this type of policy may reduce global trade, disrupt productive chains, and widen inequalities among countries. The group also calls for the full resumption of the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism.
The statement goes further in the case of economic sanctions. The BRICS condemns coercitive unilateral measures contrary to international law, including economic sanctions and unauthorized secondary sanctions not approved by the UN Security Council.
The text argues that these measures affect rights such as health, food, and development and have a greater impact on the poor populations of the affected countries. In a specific section about Latin America, the document also calls for an end to economic, commercial, and financial measures against Cuba.
National currencies and own payment systems
Another advancement occurs in the financial area. The declaration encourages the expansion of trade and investments in the currencies of the BRICS members themselves, but, for example, does not address the creation of an independent payment system.independent payment system.
Therefore, the strategy does not involve the creation of a single BRICS currency, but rather the gradual advancement of the use of national currencies and the connection between existing financial infrastructures.
The statement also reinforces the role of the
BRICS New Development Bank in promoting sustainable development and infrastructure projects in member countries.New Development Bank (NDB)Established by the BRICS in 2015, the institution is encouraged to increase its capacity to raise resources, diversify its financing sources, and expand loans conducted in local currencies.
Wars: Caution in the Middle East and a more explicit position on Gaza
The war in the Middle East was one of the most delicate topics for the construction of a common text. The statement expresses "deep concern" about the escalation of tensions in the region and calls for "maximum restraint," avoiding to name the countries involved in the current conflict.
The BRICS calls for the protection of civilians and civil infrastructure, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and a solution based on dialogue and diplomacy. It also expresses concern over attacks against civilian nuclear facilities subject to the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Regarding Palestine, the document is more specific. The bloc advocates for the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state within the internationally recognized borders of 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and opposes any forced displacement of the Palestinian population.
The statement also mentions the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the case brought by South Africa against Israel and reaffirms Israel's obligation to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
The Russia-Ukraine war does not appear by name in the New Delhi Declaration. In general terms, the document expresses concern about conflicts in different regions and the increase in global military spending.