PM Modi meets BRICS security chiefs, setting India's chairmanship agenda on terror, cyber and tech

Ahead of leading the bloc's security track, the PM told visiting BRICS National Security Advisors that the expanded grouping must deepen practical cooperation on terrorism, cybersecurity and emerging technologies, and advance Global South priorities.

What happened

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met the National Security Advisors and senior security officials of BRICS countries, highlighting the grouping's growing significance in addressing global security challenges.
• He noted that in a rapidly changing global landscape, BRICS has an important role in deepening cooperation on key security issues.
• He emphasised the need for greater collaboration among member countries to address shared challenges — including terrorism, cybersecurity and emerging technologies.
• The PM underlined that India's chairmanship of BRICS will focus on advancing practical cooperation among member nations.
• He reiterated India's commitment to promoting the priorities of the Global South and to building a safer, more secure and inclusive world.

For Prelims

• BRICS: Originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa; expanded (2024-25) to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the UAE — now a major Global South grouping. India holds the 2026 chairmanship.
• BRICS security track: The NSAs'/High Representatives on Security meeting is a key BRICS process on counter-terrorism, cybersecurity and emerging-tech security — distinct from the leaders' summit and the foreign/finance ministers' tracks.
• India's NSA: The National Security Advisor (a key post in the National Security Council Secretariat) leads India's participation in such security dialogues.
• Global South: India positions itself as a voice of developing countries (e.g. via the 'Voice of Global South Summit') — a recurring theme of its BRICS and G20 diplomacy.
• BRICS vs G7/G20: BRICS (emerging economies, now expanded) is distinct from the G7 (advanced democracies) and the G20; India is in BRICS and the G20 (which it chaired in 2023) but is only a G7 guest.
• BRICS institutions: The New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) are BRICS financial mechanisms — useful context for the bloc's cooperation.
• Don't confuse: This is the BRICS NSAs'/security-officials' meeting under India's chairmanship — not a leaders' summit; 'practical cooperation' signals an outcome-focused, issue-based agenda.

For Mains

Syllabus: GS2.18 · Linkage L2