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India's Biosecurity Leadership: How Jaishankar Aims to Modernize Global Weapons Pact

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar just addressed a major international conference marking 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention. He made it clear that India is fully committed to the treaty and wants to see it updated for modern challenges. Jaishankar pointed out that the current pact lacks key tools, like a way to track new scientific developments. He argued that countries in the Global South should lead this reform, as they are most affected by biological threats.

Key Points: Jaishankar Details India's BWC Commitment at 50th Anniversary Conference

  • Jaishankar emphasized modernizing the BWC to address gaps like the lack of a compliance system
  • He highlighted India's non-proliferation record and its Vaccine Maitri initiative during COVID-19
  • The minister stressed that biological threats move fast, defy borders, and can overwhelm systems
  • He called for the Global South to shape the BWC's future, as it has the most to gain from stronger biosecurity
2 min read

EAM highlights India's commitment to full Biological Weapons Convention implementation at 50th BWC conference

EAM S Jaishankar outlines India's leadership in biosecurity, advocating for BWC modernization and a stronger role for the Global South at a key international conference.

"We strive to modernise the BWC, the Global South must take ownership—preparing wisely for future challenges. - S Jaishankar"

New Delhi, December 1

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday addressed the inaugural conference on the occasion of '50 Years of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC): Strengthening Bio-security for the Global South', emphasising India's commitment to full and effective implementation of the Convention and highlighting the country's leadership role in global biosecurity.

Speaking to experts and representatives from over 80 countries, Jaishankar discussed the need to modernise the BWC and the critical role of the Global South in shaping its future. He outlined India's record of ensuring non-proliferation of sensitive and dual-use goods & technologies, the vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic and the proposal of a National Implementation Framework that covers the identification of high-risk agents, oversight of dual-use research, domestic reporting, incident management, and continuous training.

Jaishankar highlighted in his remarks that they strive to modernise the BWC, the Global South must take ownership--preparing wisely for future challenges.

In a post on X, he emphasised the need for ensuring that BWC remains the guardrail between innovation and misuse in the life sciences in an uncertain international security environment.

He noted how BWC lacks basic institutional structures like the absence of a compliance system, permanent technical body or tracking mechanism for new scientific developments and emphasised working to modernise the Convention, stronger compliance measures and strengthening global capacity.

Jaishankar highlighted the need for securing international cooperation as central to any solution, considering biological threat moves fast, defies borders and overwhelms systems and ensuring that the Global South shapes the next 50 years of BWC as it has most to gain from stronger biosecurity and also the most to contribute.

In line with its strong commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation, India is organising an international conference to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

Experts from over 80 countries of the Global South and representatives of regional and international organisations will take part in the conference on December 1-2 at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Very important topic. After COVID, we all know how fast a biological threat can spread. The convention needs to be modernised with proper tracking and compliance. India is right to lead this discussion.
R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but implementation is key. We have great policies on paper. Hope the National Implementation Framework gets the funding and teeth it needs at the ground level in all states.
S
Sarah B
As someone working in public health, this is encouraging. The lack of a permanent technical body in the BWC is a glaring gap. International cooperation, as Dr. Jaishankar said, is the only way forward. Pandemics don't care about passports.
V
Vikram M
Hosting this conference is a smart diplomatic move. It positions India not just as a participant but as a shaper of global biosecurity norms. The focus on dual-use research oversight is crucial for safety.
K
Kavya N
Hope this leads to real action and isn't just another talk shop. Our scientists and labs are world-class. With proper frameworks, India can be a global hub for safe and ethical bioscience innovation. 🤞

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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