India Chairs 16th BRICS National Security Advisers' Meeting in New Delhi

Confronting Non-Traditional Security Threats

India hosted the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers' (NSA) Meeting in New Delhi on June 22–23, 2026. The high-level conference was chaired by India's National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval. Against the backdrop of a volatile global security architecture, the representatives from the eleven BRICS member nations focused on the theme "Non-traditional security challenges confronting the world today." The agenda prioritized the rise of digital threat vectors, including advanced cyber-warfare, AI-enabled misinformation campaigns, and counter-terrorism coordination in digital spaces.

Key Deliverables and Joint Working Groups

The security representatives reviewed the operational progress made by several dedicated BRICS task forces:

• Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism: Members agreed to expand intelligence sharing, block transnational terror-funding channels, and cooperate on restricting extremist content on online social media platforms.
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Security: The delegates finalized a common framework to secure critical civilian infrastructure—such as power grids, financial systems, and communication networks—from state-sponsored cyberattacks.
• Global South Representation: NSA Ajit Doval highlighted the role of the expanded BRICS bloc as a crucial security voice for the Global South, promoting strategic autonomy, peaceful dispute resolution, and economic resilience.

Bilateral Side Engagements and Preparatory Summit Steps

The New Delhi meeting also functioned as a key diplomatic stage, with NSA Ajit Doval holding bilateral security dialogues on the sidelines. Significant side-meetings were conducted with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu, providing channels to discuss regional security, border management protocols, and diplomatic resolutions to ongoing conflicts. Crucially, the NSA meeting concluded the security track preparations for the 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 12–13, 2026, under India's chairship.