BRICS declaration backs Ethiopia’s WTO bid and ICAO Council candidacy
The September 12, 2026 New Delhi Declaration supports Ethiopia’s WTO accession bid and ICAO Council candidacy; neither endorsement constitutes admission or election.
In short
- The September 12, 2026 New Delhi Declaration supports Ethiopia’s WTO accession bid and ICAO Council candidacy; neither endorsement constitutes admission or election.
BRICS leaders backed Ethiopia’s bid to join the World Trade Organization in the New Delhi Declaration adopted on September 12, 2026, adding diplomatic support to the country’s efforts to enter the multilateral trading system.
The Reporter’s coverage of the declaration said the leaders supported Ethiopia’s accession process. The declaration text distributed by India’s Prime Minister’s Office through PublicNow also explicitly supports the WTO bids of Ethiopia and Iran.
The endorsement expresses the bloc’s position; it does not announce Ethiopia’s admission to the WTO or a date for completing accession.
The declaration also welcomes Ethiopia’s candidacy for an additional seat on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization. It identifies Ethiopia as the African Union’s sole endorsed African candidate and also welcomes Indonesia’s candidacy. Support for the candidates precedes the election and does not establish that either has won a seat.
These positions sit alongside the bloc’s call to strengthen the WTO and its concern about trade restrictions inconsistent with the organization’s rules. For Ethiopia, the declaration brings support for two separate objectives: joining the global trade body and gaining representation in international aviation governance.
