BRICS adopts New Delhi Declaration after marathon negotiations; India bridges Iran-UAE differences - The New Indian Express

India Mediates Iran-UAE Disputes to Secure BRICS New Delhi Declaration

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the BRICS alliance has officially adopted the New Delhi Declaration following marathon negotiations. The consensus was secured largely due to India's active mediation, which successfully bridged deep-seated policy differences between two of the bloc's newest members, Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This achievement highlights India's growing role as a crucial consensus-builder within the newly expanded "BRICS+" alliance. It also demonstrates the geopolitical challenges of managing a larger, more diverse coalition of developing nations, proving that despite intense bilateral frictions, the bloc can still find common ground on global priorities.

Navigating the Complexities of an Expanded BRICS+

The adoption of the New Delhi Declaration marks a significant milestone for BRICS since its historic expansion. On January 1, 2024, the alliance officially welcomed Iran, the UAE, Egypt, and Ethiopia into its fold, transitioning from a five-nation coalition to a larger, more complex entity often referred to as BRICS+.

While this expansion has significantly amplified the bloc’s economic and demographic weight—now representing a massive share of the world's population and global economic output—it has also imported complex regional rivalries. The marathon negotiations leading up to the New Delhi Declaration brought these internal frictions to the forefront, requiring skilled diplomacy to prevent a stalemate.

Bridging the Geopolitical Divide Between Iran and the UAE

The primary hurdle during the drafting of the New Delhi Declaration was the diplomatic friction between Iran and the UAE. The two Gulf neighbors have a history of geopolitical tension, most notably a long-standing territorial dispute over three strategic islands in the Persian Gulf: Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb. Beyond territorial claims, the two nations have frequently held contrasting views on regional security, maritime trade protocols, and broader West Asian geopolitics.

During the BRICS negotiations, these differences threatened to derail the consensus needed to adopt the joint declaration. As the host nation for this specific working group meeting, India stepped in to play the role of neutral mediator. India's diplomatic leverage stems from its robust, independent bilateral relationships with both nations:

• Partnership with Iran: New Delhi maintains deep strategic ties with Tehran, highlighted by their joint development of the Chabahar Port, which serves as a critical transit hub for India's trade with Central Asia and Russia via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• Partnership with the UAE: Simultaneously, India shares a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Abu Dhabi. The two nations enjoy massive trade volumes facilitated by a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and collaborate closely in minilateral forums such as the I2U2 Group.

Leveraging this unique dual trust, Indian negotiators worked behind the scenes in marathon sessions to draft compromise language that satisfied the security and sovereignty concerns of both Tehran and Abu Dhabi, ultimately clearing the path for the declaration's unanimous adoption.

India’s Emerging Role as a Global Consensus-Builder

This successful mediation is not an isolated incident; it reflects a deliberate pattern in modern Indian foreign policy. India has increasingly positioned itself as a "bridge-builder" between conflicting factions in an increasingly polarized world.

This strategy was prominently displayed during the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023. At that summit, Indian diplomats successfully brokered the G20 New Delhi Leaders' Declaration despite deep geopolitical divisions between Western nations and the Russia-China axis over the conflict in Ukraine.

By replicating this consensus-building success within the expanded BRICS, India has reinforced its credentials as a leading voice of the Global South. It has demonstrated that it possesses the diplomatic dexterity to manage diverse interests, ensuring that multilateral forums remain functional and productive rather than paralyzed by bilateral disputes.

The Strategic Importance of the New Delhi Declaration

While the specific administrative focus of the declaration reflects the mandate of the hosting working group, the document broadly reinforces the core tenets of the BRICS alliance. These include:

• A collective push for reformed multilateralism, emphasizing the need for greater representation of developing economies in global governance institutions like the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.
• Enhanced cooperation in sustainable development, climate action, technology sharing, and economic integration.
• A unified commitment to combating transnational challenges, including disaster risk management, cybersecurity threats, and international terrorism.

By securing the signature of all member states, including rivals like Iran and the UAE, the declaration sends a powerful message that the expanded BRICS is capable of unified action on the world stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BRICS New Delhi Declaration?

The New Delhi Declaration is a joint consensus document adopted by the BRICS member nations following intensive negotiations. It outlines the bloc's shared positions on key global issues, multilateral cooperation, and regional challenges.

Why did Iran and the UAE have disagreements during the negotiations?

Iran and the UAE have historical geopolitical differences, including a long-standing territorial dispute over three strategic islands in the Persian Gulf (Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb), as well as differing approaches to regional security. These frictions spilled over into the negotiation process.

How did India help resolve the deadlock?

India utilized its strong bilateral relations with both Iran and the UAE to act as an intermediary. By drafting balanced, compromise text that respected the core security and diplomatic concerns of both nations, Indian negotiators successfully bridged the divide.

When did Iran and the UAE join BRICS?

Iran and the UAE officially became full members of the BRICS alliance on January 1, 2024, alongside Egypt and Ethiopia, marking the first major expansion of the bloc since South Africa joined in 2010.

Why is this consensus significant for the future of BRICS?

The successful adoption of the declaration proves that the expanded "BRICS+" can still achieve diplomatic consensus despite the inclusion of member states with active bilateral disputes. It establishes a precedent for conflict resolution and negotiation within the expanded alliance.

What is India's broader diplomatic strategy within BRICS?

India seeks to position itself as a consensus-builder and a leading voice for the Global South. By mediating regional disputes and facilitating joint declarations, India enhances its strategic influence while ensuring that the bloc remains a credible platform for international cooperation.