BRICS Leaders Condemn Unilateral Sanctions And Attacks On Nuclear Sites

BRICS leaders in New Delhi on September 12, 2026, released a joint statement condemning unilateral sanctions and attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear sites.^[1]

The leaders specifically condemned "deliberate attacks" on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities under IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safeguards, citing nuclear safety concerns in armed conflicts.^[1] They also criticized unilateral sanctions not authorized by the U.N. Security Council and urged their elimination as inconsistent with international law and the U.N. Charter.^[1] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "BRICS is not against anyone" while urging the Global South to become a "rule-shaper" in global governance.^[1] Russian President Vladimir Putin called for expanding the Security Council to give greater representation to Asia, Africa and Latin America.^[1]

Modi framed the New Delhi summit as an effort to shift global governance toward the Global South and to make BRICS a "rule-shaper." PBS News The language reflects longstanding BRICS concerns about the use of sanctions outside U.N. authorization and about the heightened dangers that conflicts pose to civilian nuclear sites.

The joint statement underscores BRICS' broader push to reshape international rules and to contest policies it views as unilateral, including sanctions and the current distribution of Security Council power.^[1]

1. PBS News