Africa: BRICS Adopt Resolutions On Conflict Resolution, Multilateralism, Tariffs, Trade, Others

What the report says

BRICS leaders meeting in India adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026 on the first day of their annual summit, according to Premium Times via AllAfrica. The 45-page statement was approved unanimously at the 18th BRICS Summit, which brought together member states including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, along with partner countries such as Nigeria.

The declaration focused on conflict prevention, multilateral cooperation and opposition to terrorism and unilateral trade measures. It also reflected concern about the ongoing Middle East war, urging maximum restraint, dialogue and diplomacy, and calling for protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The document opposed attacks that could threaten nuclear safety and encouraged disputes to be settled through negotiation rather than military escalation.

Trade issues were another major theme. BRICS criticized unilateral tariffs and non-tariff barriers, arguing that they can distort commerce and weigh on developing economies. The group also backed wider use of local currencies in cross-border payments and supported the creation of a BRICS Payment Task Force to make transactions among members easier and less dependent on existing global payment systems.

The report also noted Nigeria’s participation on the summit sidelines, where Vice President Kashim Shettima reaffirmed support for the World Trade Organisation and the multilateral trading system during a meeting with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.