BRICS leaders have endorsed India and Brazil's aspirations for a greater role in the United Nations, including the Security Council, according to the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit. The declaration, published by Hindustan Times, states that China and Russia, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, reiterated their support for the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the UN, including its Security Council. The declaration also called for the reform of the UN Security Council to make it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, with greater representation for developing countries.

The declaration, as reported by Indian Express, emphasized the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, to increase the representation of developing countries. It stated that the reform should lead to an amplified voice for the Global South, recalling previous declarations from 2022 and 2023. The UN Security Council currently has five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US—each holding veto power. The declaration did not specify how the reform would be implemented or which countries would be added to the Council.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the opening session of the BRICS summit, called for a greater role for developing countries in global decision-making. He criticized the current global architecture as a 'pyramid' where the powerful make decisions and the less powerful are affected. Modi advocated for a 'platform of partnership' to replace the 'pyramid of privilege.' However, the declaration did not include any specific proposals for expanding the Security Council or altering the veto system.

The BRICS declaration also expressed concern over unilateral trade measures and called for the restoration of the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism. It condemned unilateral economic and secondary sanctions as contrary to international law. The declaration did not address the implications of these measures for developing countries or provide a detailed plan for reforming the WTO.

The summit, held in New Delhi from September 12 to 13, saw the participation of leaders from Brazil, China, India, Russia, and South Africa. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India for the first time since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira represented President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who remained in Brazil for his election campaign.

The declaration does not specify the timeline for implementing the proposed reforms or the criteria for selecting new members for the Security Council. The lack of detailed proposals limits the understanding of how the aspirations of India and Brazil will be realized. Further information is needed to assess the potential impact of the declaration on global governance and the role of the UN Security Council.