Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday to participate in the 16th BRICS National Security Advisers (NSAs) meeting, as confirmed by the Russian Embassy in India via a post on X. The high-level multilateral engagement is being hosted by India and chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Meeting Agenda and Theme
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the meeting's theme is "Non-traditional security challenges confronting the world today." The NSAs and heads of delegation from BRICS member countries will exchange views on this theme and discuss the rapidly evolving nature of national security threats. The role of emerging technologies in shaping new security challenges will also be a key topic of discussion.
Review of Working Groups
The discussions are expected to include a review of the outcomes from the recently held BRICS Joint Working Groups on Counter-Terrorism and on Security in the Use of Information and Communication Technologies. These working groups focus on enhancing cooperation among member states in addressing terrorism and cybersecurity threats.
India's BRICS Chairship 2026
India's BRICS Chairship in 2026 marks its fourth term, having previously held the position in 2012, 2016, and 2021. The chairship is guided by the theme "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," reflecting a people-centric and humanity-first approach articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit.
BRICS Membership and Pillars
BRICS currently brings together eleven major emerging economies: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The grouping serves as a platform for consultation and cooperation on issues of global and regional significance, as well as on global political and economic governance.
According to the official BRICS 2026 website, the grouping's agenda has expanded significantly from its original focus on economic issues to three core pillars: political and security cooperation, economic and financial cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. BRICS cooperation now covers a wide range of issues, including counter-terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, international financial architecture, telecommunications, agriculture, labour and employment, trade, and WTO-related matters.
Expected Outcomes
The BRICS NSAs meeting is expected to strengthen coordination among member countries on key security and strategic challenges facing the global order. This includes enhancing collaboration on non-traditional security threats and leveraging emerging technologies for security while mitigating associated risks.
