BRICS has a special role in the world facing tension and security challenges: Ajit Doval!

India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said on Tuesday that BRICS is more than just a group of countries. He described it as a collective home of almost half the world’s population, which has a “special role” in tackling global challenges. Especially at a time when the international system is facing increasing instability, geopolitical tensions and changing security threats.

NSA Ajit Doval welcomed his counterparts at the 16th BRICS National Security Advisors Meeting and reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening cooperation among the member countries. He thanked the participating countries for their continued engagement and support in furthering cooperation within the Group.

“I thank you all for your presence today and your continued commitment to strengthening cooperation among the BRICS countries,” NSA Ajit Doval said at the beginning of his speech.

Highlighting the current global situation, he said the world is going through a particularly difficult period, characterized by armed conflicts, geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressures and the advent of disruptive technologies that are changing the international security environment.

He said, “We meet at very difficult times. The world is grappling with military conflicts and difficult security problems. It is facing geopolitical uncertainties, economic pressures and disruptive technology.”

NSA Ajit Doval said that the challenges facing the international community are becoming increasingly complex and difficult to manage, while existing institutional frameworks and conflict resolution methods are finding it difficult to respond effectively.

“Not only are threats becoming more complex and interconnected, but the tools and institutional mechanisms available to respond to them or mitigate their impacts are also proving increasingly inadequate,” he said.

Expressing concern over the weakening of multilateral cooperation, NSA Doval said that the global system is witnessing a decline in multilateralism, at a time when the need to work together is greater than ever.

Recalling the original vision behind the formation of BRICS, he said, “Multilateralism is waning.”

According to NSA Ajit Doval, BRICS was conceived as an informal grouping of emerging economies with the aim of promoting a more “multipolar world order”, enhancing economic cooperation and enhancing the voice of the Global South in international affairs.

He said the group is also built on the hope of reforming global governance structures and improving international institutions so they better reflect today’s realities and the interests of developing countries.

NSA Ajit Doval described BRICS as a “very special alliance” of countries linked by common aspirations for peace, development, economic growth and cooperation. He expressed happiness over the Group’s continued expansion and growing influence globally.

NSA Doval said, “This is no ordinary group, but home to 1.4 billion people which is about 49 per cent or almost half of the world’s population. Together, it also contributes $31.5 trillion to wealth creation across the world. Its GDP is more than 30 per cent of the world economy.

Its land area is more than 42 million square kilometers. The most important thing is that it is spread all over the world. “We are here from different islands and regions and this is a group where we bring with us very different experiences.”

Emphasizing the importance of BRICS in today’s global environment, he said, “We have a special role to play in a world that seems to be in turmoil, that seems to be changing, a world in which the methods of resolving conflicts are probably coming to an end.”

NSA Ajit Doval also mentioned the recent diplomatic developments involving the US and Iran and welcomed the memorandum of understanding reportedly signed between the two countries. He said that India is watching this development with caution and expectation. It is expected that this will contribute positively to regional and global stability.

He said, “We are hopeful that it will work. It will help in energy security. The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a very good addition. It will remove supply chain bottlenecks and will remove many shortcomings in the field of fertilizers and chemicals. The freedom of navigation that countries will get in the region and beyond will probably also greatly improve our economic well-being.”

Regarding the emerging security concerns, NSA Doval stressed that BRICS member states must remain alert to the changing threats that increasingly cross national boundaries and are often difficult to counter through conventional means.

He said that non-traditional security challenges have become more complex and changing, making traditional responses less effective.

He said, “Non-traditional threats have crossed national borders and have created systems of defeat against traditional responses. New disruptive technologies, more covert forms of terrorism, cyber threats, in a world that is increasingly digitized, all these are urgent threats to us. Today, we will tackle some of these non-traditional security challenges in our group interaction here.”

NSA Ajit Doval said that the meeting will discuss the outcomes of BRICS Joint Working Groups related to counter-terrorism and security in the use of information and communication technology and the importance of both of these has increased in the rapidly changing global security environment.

India is co-chairing the BRICS National Security Advisors Meeting, which brings together top security officials of member countries to discuss global security challenges and strengthen cooperation on key strategic issues.

National Security Advisors and heads of delegations of BRICS member countries are participating in this meeting.