Archive · 13 Sep 2026
BRICS Leaders Adopt New Delhi Declaration Amid Middle East Tensions
BRICS countries met in India for a two-day summit.
On the first day, their leaders agreed to the New Delhi Declaration.
The declaration says cultural heritage should be protected, even in places affected by fighting.
It also supports returning important old objects to the countries where they came from.
The leaders welcomed a separate culture ministers’ agreement called the Bhopal Declaration.
Narendra Modi announced the agreement with other leaders present.
The countries had disagreements involving the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
They still reached a joint statement, but it did not directly mention United States strikes on Iran or Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab nations.
BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on the first day of the two-day summit hosted by India.
The declaration supports protecting cultural heritage, especially in conflict-affected regions.
It backs returning antiquities and objects of spiritual, ancestral, historical and cultural value to their countries of origin.
The grouping welcomed the Bhopal Declaration adopted at the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting.
The consensus declaration followed differences between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, but did not directly mention United States strikes on Iran or Iranian attacks on Gulf Arab nations.
- Who
- BRICS leaders, including Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- What
- They adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which supports cultural-heritage protection and the repatriation of antiquities.
- When
- Saturday, on the first day of the two-day BRICS Summit 2026.
- Where
- New Delhi, India.
- Why
- To set out shared positions on cultural cooperation and heritage protection while reaching a consensus declaration despite differences involving the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
- Declaration
- New Delhi Declaration
- Host country
- India
- Summit duration
- Two days
- Cultural priority
- Protecting heritage in conflict-affected regions
- Repatriation policy
- Returning antiquities and spiritually, ancestrally, historically or culturally significant objects to their countries of origin
- Related agreement
- Bhopal Declaration, adopted at the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting
- Diplomatic outcome
- Consensus was reached after differences between the United Arab Emirates and Iran