INDIA DELIVERS A DIPLOMATIC MASTERSTROKE, INDIA’S MASSIVE WIN AS US ANALYST MICHAEL DECLARES IT A GRAND SUCCESS

India has delivered a resounding diplomatic success by hosting the 18th BRICS Summit, a leading US-based analyst has said, asserting that New Delhi demonstrated exceptional convening power by forging consensus among deeply divided global powers.

Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the prestigious Atlantic Council in Washington, hailed India’s chairmanship, stating that the early and substantive joint declaration was proof of India’s rising stature as a global consensus-builder.

“I think we could assess India’s hosting role as a success. The fact that there was a joint declaration that was quite substantive and was issued on the first day highlights how New Delhi was able to work with a group with disparate views and reach a consensus,” Kugelman told PTI

The annual summit of the expanded BRICS grouping – now an 11-member bloc representing nearly 49.5% of the world’s population and 40% of global GDP – was held under India’s chairmanship in New Delhi from September 12 to 13.

The summit was attended by top global leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with leaders of Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Indonesia.

On Saturday, the bloc unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration 2026, a comprehensive document that sent strong signals to the Western-led order.

The declaration expressed serious concern over the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures, stating that such actions distort global trade and violate World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. The indirect reference to US tariff policies is seen as a bold statement.

It focused on terrorism, conflict prevention and peaceful resolution of disputes. Sources revealed that India played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in bridging differences between Iran and the UAE over the West Asia conflict during intense negotiations that reportedly continued till 4 AM on Saturday.

The declaration reaffirmed BRICS’ core principles of reforming global governance, pushing for UN reforms, de-dollarization through use of local currencies, and championing the interests of the Global South.

Analysts are calling it a “significant diplomatic win” because earlier this year, the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting had failed to produce any joint statement due to internal rifts.

Kugelman noted, “What’s fortunate for BRICS is that it operates based on consensus, not unanimity. There needs to be a critical mass of those agreeing, and that’s clearly what India was able to get to.”

He also acknowledged the challenges India faced – navigating the war in Iran and managing the sensitivities around US policies – but said New Delhi handled them with maturity.

While the declaration’s criticism of tariffs and sanctions may cause some unhappiness in Washington, experts believe it cements India’s image as a bridge-builder – a nation that can talk to Russia and the US, Iran and the UAE, and China and the West at the same time.

From being a balancing power to a convening power — New Delhi has arrived at the centre stage of global diplomacy.