New Delhi witnessed a moment of great diplomatic importance on Saturday when the BRICS grouping adopted the New Delhi Declaration with full consensus at the end of the first day of the two day summit held at Bharat Mandapam. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the achievement, which came only after difficult negotiations, since Iran and the United Arab Emirates had earlier held very different views on the West Asia conflict. That such sharp differences were resolved through quiet diplomacy shows the seriousness with which BRICS nations wish to stay united.

I think three major issues stood out in the discussions, each carrying a hopeful outcome for the region. The first was the reform of global institutions. Leaders agreed that bodies created decades ago no longer reflect today’s world, and the declaration pushes for change in representation, responsiveness and rule making, giving developing nations a stronger voice. The second was trade and the rise of protectionism, a subject that has grown urgent since the United States under President Donald Trump began imposing steep tariffs and threatening additional duties on countries seen as close to BRICS. Member nations reaffirmed........

© Greater Kashmir