National Security Advisers of BRICS meet in Saint Petersburg: Noteworthy outcomes

BRICS, originally a grouping of four, then five nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has been receiving higher attention in the ongoing discourse on international relations since its decision last year to include five new members (UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, and Saudi Arabia). Its growing popularity is evident from the fact that 34 other nations desire to join the 10-member BRICS. Among its mechanisms, the annual meeting of the national security advisers plays a key role. The latest meeting in this series was held in St Petersburg, Russia, on September 11-12, 2024. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval represented India at this meeting. His participation in the discussions as well as his meetings on the sidelines have been noticed widely. They deserve a careful assessment.

BRICS in progress

BRICS-10 has been carrying forward the task of BRICS-5 by attempting to strengthen the framework of its strategic partnership under the three pillars of cooperation – politics and security, economy and finance, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. In the June 10 meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, the foreign ministers of BRICS-10 reaffirmed their “commitment to the BRICS spirit, featuring mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus.” The latest meeting of the NSAs continued this approach, focusing on deepening cooperation in the domain of national security.

Reports indicate that NSA Doval, in his formal intervention, touched on three significant themes. First, he spoke about modern security challenges, including ICT-related issues as well as terrorism, while emphasising the imperative need to tackle them through greater cooperation within the grouping. It is worth recalling that BRICS governments have been deeply concerned about the “exponential spread and proliferation of disinformation and misinformation,” as the joint statement of foreign ministers put it in June.

Watch: BRICS NSA meet: Doval in Moscow with a Ukraine peace plan

Second, Doval highlighted the need for strengthening multilateralism at a time when existing global mechanisms have demonstrated their inadequacy in tackling modern threats. Indeed, BRICS has been committed to promoting a more agile, effective, and efficient multilateral system. Its vision is gaining popularity as more nations press for their inclusion into the grouping.

Third, the Indian NSA pointed to the strengths of BRICS that remain crucial. He stated: “The BRICS spirit of mutual respect and understanding solidarity, equality, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus remains our guiding light” to address major challenges.

Also read: US says ‘no change’ in long-range missiles policy even as Zelensky fumes over delay

On September 12, NSAs were received by Russian President Vladimir Putin, except for the NSA of Saudi Arabia. (Ambivalence still prevails over Saudi participation in BRICS deliberations.) The Russian president expressed his satisfaction over the NSAs’ lively and productive discussions “on the most relevant aspects of the global situation and global and regional stability concerns.” He termed the NSAs’ meeting “a crucial step” in preparing for the summit and BRICS Plus/Outreach that are scheduled to take place in Kazan, Russia, on October 22-24. Putin indicated that “the swift and seamless integration” of the new member countries into all BRICS mechanisms and devising the framework for a new category of “partner states” figure among the Russian presidency’s priorities. “We will also consider several potential candidates for this status,” he added.

On the sidelines

What happened outside the formal programme of NSAs’ meeting was of considerable significance. Doval was given an opportunity to pay an exclusive bilateral call on President Putin. Its significance was projected through a short video covering the first few minutes of this meeting that underlined the special relationship between India and Russia. The Indian official briefed the Russian leader, on the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, about the latter’s recent discussions with the President of Ukraine in Kyiv. This was a further amplification of India’s continuing helpful role in creating the basis for a peaceful dialogue about the Ukraine conflict. It also reflected India’s strong desire to keep stressing to both parties that a solution needs to be found through dialogue and diplomacy, and not by continuing the war. Some commentators speculated that the NSA carried ‘India’s peace plan’ to Moscow.

It was, however, another matter that, as armed hostilities continued, Ukraine was reportedly seeking NATO approval to strike targets deep into Russia through long-range Western weapons. This produced a sharp warning from President Putin. He indicated that Russia would be “at war” with the US and its allies if they lifted restrictions on Ukraine in this regard. As a result, Russia would take “appropriate measures,” he said. Clearly, the issues of war and peace in Ukraine are in evolution. Indian diplomacy is not only monitoring the relevant developments closely but is also engaged in moulding them to the extent it can.

Another important meeting Doval had was with Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) political bureau and director of the office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission, on September 12. Following a review of recent developments relating to “the remaining issues” concerning the Line of Actual Control (LAC), they agreed to “redouble their efforts” to secure complete disengagement in the remaining areas. This came just as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated, while on a visit to Germany, that 75 per cent of the “disengagement problems” with China have been sorted out, but he added that the “bigger issue” has been the increasing militarisation of the border. The next day, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated at the media briefing that the two militaries realised disengagement in four areas, including the Galwan Valley, and added that the situation along the border was stable.

Immediate prospects

With PM Modi set to travel to Moscow again to participate in the BRICS summit in October and the likelihood of his meetings with President Putin and President Xi Jinping, the chances of further consolidation and strengthening of this grouping have improved.

Moreover, depending on what transpires behind the scenes in the next five weeks, there appears a serious possibility of a breakthrough in the India-China negotiations on the border issues as well. Watch this space.

Disclaimer: The writer's views do not represent those of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.