NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the urgent need for enhanced resilience and joint preparedness among BRICS nations on Sunday, warning that global crises can no longer be contained within regional borders. Addressing the open session on the second day of the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam, PM Modi underscored the far-reaching fallout of geopolitical tensions, pandemics, and supply chain shocks on ordinary citizens.
“Pandemics, climate disasters, and supply chain disruptions have demonstrated that in today’s interconnected world, no crisis remains confined to a single region,” PM Modi said. “Therefore, we have placed special emphasis on enhancing resilience within the BRICS group. It is equally essential to identify challenges in a timely manner, remain prepared for them, and take immediate action.”
Early Warning Systems and Bilateral Push
Highlighting concrete deliverables under India’s 2026 chairship theme—“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”—PM Modi announced that member states achieved consensus on a BRICS Integrated Early Warning System for infectious diseases alongside new guidelines for disaster management data integration.
The day’s schedule also includes high-stakes bilateral engagements. PM Modi is slated to meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the sidelines of the summit. Additionally, India continues to deepen its diplomatic ties with Asian and African partners through scheduled discussions with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo, and Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
The New Delhi Declaration
The summit’s second day follows the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday, which PM Modi praised as a sign of a grouping wider in reach and stronger in purpose. The declaration focuses heavily on practical, development-oriented cooperation while addressing critical global friction points.
In the declaration, BRICS leaders expressed deep concern over rising tensions in West Asia, reaffirming strong support for a lasting two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and urging for unhindered humanitarian aid access into Gaza. Furthermore, the grouping issued a direct warning against protectionist policies, calling for an immediate end to unilateral economic sanctions, arbitrary tariff hikes, and green-labeled trade barriers that disrupt global supply chains and disproportionately harm developing economies.
With India helming the presidency since January 1, 2026, the summit concludes with a unified push to solidify human-centric growth models and reinforce institutional cooperation across the Global South.
