GUWAHATI | Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the outcome of the BRICS summit had disproved predictions of a deadlock, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with helping the grouping reach consensus despite deep geopolitical differences.

Reacting to international media coverage of the summit, Sarma said it was “heartening” to see recognition of Modi’s role in bringing BRICS members together.

“This morning, as I scanned the headlines of leading newspapers across the world, it was heartening to see the widespread recognition” of Modi’s role in forging consensus, Sarma said in a post on X. The Assam chief minister said the summit was held against the backdrop of a complex geopolitical environment, with member countries divided on several major international issues.

“In today’s complex geopolitical climate, the doomsayers were out in full force, certain the summit would collapse into empty statements,” Sarma said.

He added that the outcome demonstrated that consensus and practical solutions remained possible under difficult circumstances. “Yet the outcome speaks for itself: with the right leadership, consensus and solutions can be forged even in the most difficult circumstances,” he said.

Sarma’s remarks came after the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration at the 18th BRICS Summit. He had earlier described the declaration as reflecting India’s “pragmatic, inclusive and forward-looking leadership” and credited Modi with helping member countries arrive at an agreement.

The Assam chief minister also welcomed the declaration’s reference to the Guwahati Declaration on combating narcotics, adopted at the BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies meeting held in Guwahati in July. Sarma said the reference was significant for Assam, which he described as being located along a critical narcotics corridor.