Ajit Doval welcomes BRICS and partner nations at 16th National Security Advisers' Meeting
New Delhi, June 23
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday welcomed BRICS and partner nations at the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting.
BRICS comprises 11 full member nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, alongside newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia
Dignitaries participating in the meeting included Brazil Secretary of Multilateral Political Affairs Carlos Marcio Bicalho Cozendey, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister in the Presidency of South Africa Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Secretary-General of the UAE Supreme Council for National Security Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi, Head of Egypt's State Information Service Alaa Youssef, Iran's Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ghadir Nezamipour, Deputy of Geo-Economy at the National Resilience Council of Indonesia Yayat Ruyat, and Executive Director of Analysis at the National Intelligence and Security Service of Ethiopia Million Lema Tadesse.
The dignitaries also participated in a group photo with all the heads of security of all participating countries.
Earlier, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval hailed the BRICS group as a "very special coalition", expressing elation over its growth, and stating that the member and partner economies have "got a very special role to play in this world."
Speaking at the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers' meeting in New Delhi, Doval said that the meeting assumes importance amid the ongoing "geopolitical uncertainties."
"We are meeting at a very tumultuous time. The world is beleaguered by military conflicts and complex security problems. It is facing geopolitical uncertainties, economic strains, and disruptive technology. Not only that the threats are compounding, but the instruments and institutional mechanisms are increasingly finding themselves to be inadequate to resolve or mitigate these conflicts. Multilateralism is on the decline," he said.Underscoring the evolving role of BRICS in global governance, Doval said that it was originally conceived to provide a platform for emerging economies to foster economic cooperation and strengthen the voice of the Global South.He noted that the bloc remains dedicated to institutional reforms and a collaborative approach to international challenges.
"BRICS was conceived as an informal grouping of emerging economies to a more multipolar world order. It was to advance economic cooperation and strengthen the voice of the Global South. It also envisioned reforms in global governance and institutional improvements. BRICS is a very special coalition of countries that believe in peace, progress, development, and cooperation. I'm happy to see that it is gaining strength day by day," he said.
India's BRICS Chairship in 2026 is its fourth, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016 and 2021. The Chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability", reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit.
BRICS currently brings together eleven major emerging economies: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
— ANI
Reader Comments
BRICS seems to be growing fast - 11 members now. I wonder how effective such a diverse group can be given the different political systems and interests. Still, India's role as a bridge between East and West is crucial.
The fact that Doval is talking about geopolitical uncertainties and multilateralism declining - he's spot on. BRICS is the counterweight to Western-dominated institutions. India should use its 2026 chairmanship to push for reforms in UN, IMF, World Bank. Ab time aa gaya hai! 💪
Interesting to see Sergey Shoigu from Russia and Wang Yi from China participating. Despite the Ukraine conflict and border tensions, BRICS keeps working. That's diplomacy for you. I hope India can leverage this for better ties with China, though I'm not holding my breath.
BRICS is no longer just the original five - now it's truly representative of the Global South. India hosting this meeting shows our diplomatic heft. But I wish there was more concrete action on climate change and terrorism, not just talk. Still, baby steps... 😊
Good that India is leading BRICS discussions, but let's not forget our own security challenges - China at LAC, terrorism from across the border. Doval should ensure BRICS doesn't become a talking shop where Pakistan gets a free pass. Actions matter more than photo ops.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.