BRICS leaders voice concern over ‘growing risks’ of nuclear conflict

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Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, China's President Xi Jinping, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pose for a family photo during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, September 12, 2026. Photo: PIB via Reuters.

BRICS leaders have voiced serious concern over "deliberate attacks" on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), underlining that nuclear safety must always be upheld, including in "armed conflicts".

In the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ adopted on the first day of the two-day BRICS Summit, being hosted by India, the leaders on Saturday (September 12, 2026) also expressed concerns over the "growing risks of nuclear danger and conflict".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the declaration at the end of the opening day's deliberations in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other top leaders of the bloc.

In a major diplomatic victory for India, BRICS reached consensus on the joint declaration after overcoming sharp differences between the United Arab Emirates and Tehran regarding the West Asia conflict, but skipped any direct mention of the U.S. strikes on Iran or the Iranian military's attacks on Gulf Arab nations.

The declaration, without naming any country, said, "We express serious concern over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under full safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in violation of international law and relevant resolutions of the IAEA," it said.

"Nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment from harm," it added.

BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia joining in 2025.

Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries last year.

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The declaration said, "We express concern about the growing risks of nuclear danger and conflict.