The United Nations (UN) Secretary General, Antonio Gutterres has called on states to respect the UN Charter’s international law including principles of sovereign equality.
Gutterres was speaking at the last day of the 18th Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) summit that took place in New Delhi, India.
The two-day summit ended on Sunday with the New Delhi Declaration adopted at condemning unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures as against international law.
The 18th BRICS Summit took place in New Delhi, India under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship.
The event brought together delegations from Brazil, Russia, India, China ,South Africa plus six new member countries that joined in 2024 and 2025 including Egypt, Iran and Ethiopia among others.
India assumed the BRICS Presidency on January 1, succeeding Brazil.
India framed its presidency around four priorities represented by the acronym of its summit theme, resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability.
Addressing the closing session of the Summit, Gutterres called on states to respect the UN Charter’s international law including principles of sovereign equality.
“From Gaza to the broader crisis in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond, our world needs peace across the board. States must respect their obligations and the UN Charter international law, including principles of sovereign equality. Integrity and political independence of states, International navigation, rights and freedoms, peaceful settlement of disputes, international humanitarian law and international
human rights law. “
He called on leaders to work together in safeguard a multilateral system.
“Excellencies, as we move immersively to a multipolar world, all countries must work to strengthen and safeguard a multilateral system that delivers for all, with UN at its centre. And I look forward to working with all of you to make that future a reality.”
Meanwhile, SAPresident, Cyril Ramaphosa says the summit was able to adopt the New Delhi Declaration adopted which condemns unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures as against international law as many belived it would not succeed.
We’re able to adopt a declaration. When many thought that we would not succeed in adopting a declaration, we did and, in that regard, we congratulate all BRICS members but also especially India for hosting a very successful. I meant to. Everything was so well arranged. They were able to lead us in holding the 350 meetings or so in 30 cities, and that takes a lot of doing by any host of a huge summit like this. They’re also particularly pleased that we were joined by a partner countries.”
Ramaphosa says some of the key issues included, ensuring global governance and adherence to the multilateral system, advancing economies of their nations and respecting sovereignty without dominance by any nation.
–ChannelAfrica–
