BRICS NSAs prepare anti-terrorism draft

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 17

A virtual meeting of National Security Advisors (NSAs) from BRICS countries on Thursday reviewed a draft anti-terrorist strategy which will be submitted for approval during the upcoming summit.

It will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Presidents Vladimir Putin, Jair Bolsonaro, Xi Jinping and Cyril Ramaphosa.

The draft strategy reflects fundamental aspects for BRICS countries such as respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, adherence to international law and recognition of the UN’s central and coordinating role in security matters.

The NSAs also discussed the prospects for cooperation between the BRICS states in the field of biological security. Though Ajit Doval represented the Indian side at the videoconference chaired by his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev and also attended by Yang Jeichi who was earlier China’s Foreign Minister and Special Representative on Border Affairs.

Though Doval and Yang were digitally at the same conference, there was no opportunity for them to speak bilaterally.

The dialogue that took place showed the unity or similarity of the approaches of BRICS members on most issues on the international agenda.

The adherence to the universal as well as international law was reaffirmed, said a Russian Foreign Ministry statement. The NSAs also exchanged views on key issues of global and regional security, and discussed the main areas of practical cooperation in the field of security.

As chair, Russia managed to insert its themes such as “the inadmissibility of organising colour revolutions, as well as campaigns to discredit the political leadership of unwanted countries”.

The Kremlin is backing the incumbent regime of Alexander Lukashenko against a groundswell of protests alleging electoral fraud.

The Russian Ministry note said, “An exchange of views took place on issues of strategic stability during which the destructive plans of the US on the deployment of weapons in space was noted.”

Significantly, the NSAs reaffirmed their openness to multilateral discussion on possible measures to ensure predictability and restraint in the nuclear missile sphere.

The NSAs appreciated the WHO’s coordinating role in the fight against the pandemic and noted that “at all stages of the spread of infection”, WHO acted within its mandate. The US has taken a different stand, accusing the WHO of delay in notifying the pandemic due to pressure from China.