Lead

High-ranking security representatives from BRICS member states convened in New Delhi on June 23 to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism, cyber security, and other shared challenges, according to statements from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Russian Security Council. The meeting, held under India's BRICS chairmanship, also addressed energy security, food security, and the risks posed by emerging technologies.

Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu participated in the meeting, where he emphasized the need for BRICS to play a key role in shaping a fair architecture of international relations and raised concerns about biological security linked to US military laboratories.

Coverage Comparison

All reporting on this event comes from TASS, the Russian state news agency. The agency published multiple articles covering different aspects of the meeting, including official statements from the Indian Foreign Ministry and remarks by Sergey Shoigu. The coverage presents both the cooperative agenda of the BRICS gathering and Russia's specific security concerns, particularly regarding biosafety and international institutions.

Key Claims

  • BRICS cooperation on terrorism and cyber threats: According to a statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, as reported by TASS, the leaders voiced support for enhancing BRICS cooperation on strengthening capacities, information sharing, and coordination among law-enforcement agencies to counter terrorism and cyber risks.
  • Review of joint working groups: The participants reviewed the results of BRICS joint working groups on counter-terrorism and information and communication technology security, which were held in India in May and June of this year.
  • Meeting with Indian PM: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the participants after the meeting, as reported by TASS.
  • Shoigu on biosafety: Shoigu stated that the BRICS dialogue on biosafety is extremely important due to the global expansion of the US military biological laboratory network. He claimed there are about 120 such facilities worldwide, with 40 in Ukraine, and that they work with dangerous pathogens and conduct potentially risky experiments with viruses.
  • Shoigu on international architecture: Shoigu said BRICS should play a key role in creating a fair architecture for international relations. He argued that the central coordinating role of international organizations, led by the UN, has been effectively reduced to zero, citing alleged failures of the WTO, WHO, World Food Program, OPCW, and the International Criminal Court.
  • Shoigu's bilateral meetings: According to the Russian Security Council press office, Shoigu was expected to hold several bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from leading BRICS countries.

Perspectives

Russian Official Position

Sergey Shoigu, as reported by TASS, presented a critical view of the current international order, arguing that BRICS must step in to shape a fairer system. He highlighted biological security as a key concern, specifically pointing to US military biological laboratories as a threat.

Indian Official Position

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, through a statement reported by TASS, emphasized cooperation, information sharing, and coordination among BRICS law-enforcement agencies to counter terrorism and cyber risks, reflecting a focus on practical collaboration rather than geopolitical critique.