Foundation of a Consensus draft of Delhi Declaration in BRICS Summit was laid in a tele talk between Modi and Iranian Prez Pezeshkian

Indian Ambassador to Iran, Rudra Gaurav Shresth and envoy Deepak Mittal to the UAE started working on 'a consensus Delhi Declaration' for the BRICS Summit a few months back. 

One thing became clear, 

-- there were opposing stances from both sides.  

As talks progressed even after the commencement of VVIPs arrivals in Delhi and the initial sessions like Vladimir Putin addressing the Business Forum, one thing became clear - central to the consensus was that neither Tehran nor Washington should be named in the draft.

 

Deepak Mittal 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'used' his visit to Bishkek for the SCO leaders’ summit from August 30 to September 1.

PM told Iranian president Pezeshkian that as a new comer to the BRICS; it would be wise for him to show flexibility.

In the meantime, two of his lieutenants Dr S Jaishankar (EAM) and Ajit Doval (NSA) were also on the job.  

Doval flagged off the 'consensus draft' matter during the BRICS NSAs meeting on in June. For his part, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke to his counterparts in UAE and Iran.  

The Prime Minister spoke to UAE ruler Mohamed bin Zayed during visit to the UAE on May 15.

On June 22, Prime Minister Modi received a telephone call from the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. 

He briefed Modi and "shared his perspective on the current situation" in the region, especially the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.

Modi expressed India’s deep concern at the recent escalations also adding that India was on the side of peace and humanity. 

Modi said there is a need for immediate de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy. The UAE and BRICS angles were hinted. The PM reiterated New Delhi's support for early restoration of regional peace and stability.

Importantly, both the leaders shared commitment to continue to work for strengthening bilateral cooperation in different areas.

Among babus, Joint Secretary in MEA and G20/BRICS Sous-Sherpa, Shambhu Lingappa Hakki and India's BRICS Sherpa Sudhakar Dalela worked alongside other officials for driving the consensus negotiations. 

At the media briefing post the Summit, Dalela later said:  

"In a grouping like BRICS, where we have members with diverse development experiences and diverse economic systems, it is important that we allow discussions to evolve and emerge, and we, as Chair, have provided a forum for very transparent discussion among us".

It was "ensured" that everybody is "comfortable expressing their national perspective, and then within that framework, we tried to build consensus".  

He emphasised on New Delhi-driven approach of Dialogue and Diplomacy and said:

"... we all believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be the guiding parameter for addressing any conflict, any situation that requires a solution, and that is the only way to build lasting peace, security, and stability in any part of the world". 

"I would say that we are very happy that we have an agreed approach on West Asia".   

In public, the stance was that the BRICS is 'not against anyone'. But the run up to the adoption of the Resolution (draft statement of the Declaration) essentially banked on the juxtaposition that nothing should be left for the US and the western countries to interpret the Summit as a 'failure'. 

Even China was convinced about this. Putin's Russia was rather determined not to leave any such scope. 

Brazil also agreed. Egypt and a few other countries started playing a supporting role with Iran and UAE.

There was a consensus that the west and the select media did not get any scope to dub the Summit as a failure. 

In the ultimate, Iran and UAE saw reasons and merits in passing a Declaration that was drafted well.  

Finally, Prime Minister Modi - as the char - said : “No member has raised any objection. The New Delhi Declaration 2026 is adopted unanimously" 

And the statement read ...

"We urge to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations .... including respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States. We encourage increasing efforts, through dialogue and diplomacy...". -- Mission accomplished. 

ends