Ajit Doval to host BRICS security conclave: Cross-border terrorism, Middle East conflict in focus; China FM among key attendees
India, as the 2026 BRICS Chair, hosted the National Security Advisers' (NSA) Meeting of BRICS member countries in New Delhi on June 22–23, 2026.
NSA Ajit Doval chaired the two-day conclave, which brought together security heads from all 11 BRICS member nations, including representatives from China, Russia, and Iran.
The meeting's thematic focus was "Non-traditional security challenges confronting the world today," encompassing cross-border terrorism, West Asia instability, and threats from emerging technologies.
Delegates reviewed outcomes of the BRICS Joint Working Groups on Counter-Terrorism and on Security in the Use of Information.
The conclave serves as a preparatory track for the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12–13, 2026, in New Delhi.
BRICS: Structure, Expansion, and India's Chairmanship
BRICS is a multilateral grouping that began as BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) in 2006 before formally including South Africa in 2010. The bloc underwent a significant expansion in 2024, with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE joining as full members, and Indonesia acceding in 2025 — bringing total membership to 11 countries. In 2025, ten more nations joined as BRICS Partner Countries. India assumes the BRICS Chairmanship every few years on a rotating basis; 2026 marks India's fourth Chairmanship (previous: 2012, 2016, 2021).
Key Details
- India's 2026 BRICS Chairmanship theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability" (BRICS)
- 18th BRICS Summit: September 12–13, 2026, New Delhi
- BRICS now covers roughly 45% of world population and over 35% of global GDP (PPP)
- The NSA-level track is distinct from the Leaders' Summit and operates as a security consultative mechanism
India hosting the NSA conclave reflects its active use of the Chairmanship to set the security agenda — particularly on counter-terrorism — before the September Summit locks in collective positions.
Non-Traditional Security Threats
In international relations discourse, security threats are classified as traditional (state-vs-state military conflict) or non-traditional. Non-traditional security (NTS) threats include cross-border terrorism, cyber threats, climate-induced instability, drug trafficking, pandemics, and maritime piracy. They are "non-traditional" because they originate outside state militaries, are transboundary, and require multilateral rather than bilateral responses. UPSC Mains (GS-3) frequently asks students to distinguish these categories and evaluate India's response frameworks.
Key Details
- The UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001) is the foundational international counter-terrorism instrument
- India's primary domestic counter-terrorism architecture: National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the NIA Act, 2008; UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), 1967 as amended
- The BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group meets separately from the NSA track and feeds into it
- "Dual-use technology" in security contexts refers to technologies (AI, drones, deepfakes) usable for both civilian and hostile purposes
The conclave's review of the Counter-Terrorism Working Group outcomes institutionalises BRICS-level information sharing on terrorist financing, recruitment, and cross-border movement — directly relevant to India's concerns about state-sponsored terrorism from its western neighbourhood.
India's NSA Role and Inter-Agency Security Architecture
The National Security Adviser (NSA) is a Cabinet-rank appointment in India, functioning under the National Security Council (NSC) established in 1998. The NSA coordinates between military intelligence (DIA), civilian intelligence (IB, RAW), and the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The NSA represents India in multilateral security dialogues and bilateral 2+2 (Foreign + Defence Ministers) formats.
Key Details
- NSC was established in 1998 under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee following the Pokhran-II tests and the Kargil War
- The Strategic Policy Group (SPG) and the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) are advisory bodies under the NSC
- India has used NSA-level talks with countries like China (Wuhan/Doklam aftermath) and the US (Quad) as a de-escalation channel
The NSA-level BRICS conclave is precisely the kind of track-1.5 diplomatic mechanism where India can raise cross-border terrorism as a systemic threat rather than a bilateral grievance, seeking multilateral consensus before the September Leaders' Summit.
- BRICS membership (2026): 11 full members — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE
- BRICS Partner Countries (2025): 10 nations including Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia
- India's BRICS Chairmanships: 2012, 2016, 2021, 2026
- 18th BRICS Summit date: September 12–13, 2026, New Delhi
- India's NSC established: 1998
- Key counter-terrorism laws: NIA Act (2008), UAPA (1967, amended 2019)
- BRICS Joint Working Groups: Counter-Terrorism; Security in Use of Information (two separate tracks reviewed at this conclave)
- China's representative at the conclave: Wang Yi (Foreign Minister, heading the delegation in NSA role capacity)
- Russia's representative: Sergei Shoigu (NSA-equivalent)