Russian Security Council Secretary Shoigu arrives in India for 16th BRICS NSAs meeting
New Delhi, June 23
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu arrived in India on Tuesday to participate in the meeting of the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers.
In a post on X, the Russian Embassy in India confirmed Shoigu's arrival in New Delhi for the high-level multilateral engagement.
"Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Sergey Shoigu arrived in India to participate in the Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisors," the Embassy said.
Today is the second day of the BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting being hosted by India.
The meeting is chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
According to the the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during the meeting, NSAs and heads of delegation from BRICS member countries will exchange views on the theme "Non-traditional security challenges confronting the world today".
They will also discuss the rapidly evolving nature of national security threats and the role of emerging technologies in shaping new security challenges.
The discussions are expected to include a review of the outcomes of the recently held BRICS Joint Working Groups on Counter-Terrorism and on Security in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies.
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.
The grouping serves as a platform for consultation and cooperation on issues of global and regional significance, as well as on global political and economic governance.
According to the official BRICS 2026 website, the grouping's agenda has expanded significantly from its original focus on economic issues to three core pillars -- political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
It further notes that BRICS cooperation now covers a wide range of issues, including counter-terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, international financial architecture, telecommunications, agriculture, labour and employment, trade, and WTO-related matters.
The BRICS NSAs meeting is expected to strengthen coordination among member countries on key security and strategic challenges facing the global order.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm happy but also cautious. While BRICS gives us a platform to talk about non-traditional security threats like cyberattacks and climate change, we must remember that China and India have border issues. Hopefully, Doval sahab is using this opportunity to push for peace without compromising national security.
Interesting to see this from the outside. BRICS has become a real counterweight to Western alliances. India seems to be positioning itself as a key bridge between East and West. The focus on "emerging technologies" as security threats is timely, especially with AI and quantum computing advancing so fast.
Great initiative by India during its chairship! "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" - that's the kind of forward-looking vision we need. But I hope these meetings actually lead to concrete action, not just photo ops and press releases. The counter-terrorism working group outcomes need to be implemented properly.
As an Indian, I'm proud we're hosting this. But let's not forget - Russia is under sanctions, China is our rival, and Iran has its own issues. While BRICS is useful for economic cooperation, expecting deep security coordination among such diverse members is optimistic. Still, better to talk than fight. 🇮🇳
From a Western perspective, it's fascinating that India manages to maintain close ties with Russia while also partnering with the US and Quad. Shoigu's visit is a reminder that geopolitics isn't black and white. India's multi-alignment strategy seems to be working well, balancing security and economic interests.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.