New Delhi, May 22: Siby George, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, expressed India’s concerns regarding cross-border terrorism on Thursday. He called for collaborative efforts to combat all forms of terrorism during his address at the 11th Annual BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) meeting held in New Delhi.
George emphasized the need for a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism. He highlighted the challenges posed by the evolving nature of terrorism, the increasing networks of terror funding, radicalization, and the use of new and emerging technologies by terrorists. Strong international cooperation and coordinated efforts are essential to address these issues.
According to information shared by the Ministry of External Affairs on the social media platform X, the experienced diplomat urged for the strengthening of the existing global counter-terrorism architecture through active, comprehensive, and sustained global efforts and international collaboration.
He stressed the importance of making the BRICS CTWG more robust, future-ready, innovative, inclusive, and results-oriented. George reiterated India’s commitment to deepening cooperation with BRICS member countries for a secure and terrorism-free world.
India will assume the presidency of BRICS in 2026 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.” This theme reflects the focus on people and a humanity-first perspective, as outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 2025.
BRICS was formally established during the first meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in 2006. The inaugural summit took place in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. In 2010, the inclusion of South Africa was agreed upon during a meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers in New York, and South Africa participated in the third BRICS summit in 2011.
Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE became full members of BRICS in January 2024, while Indonesia will join in January 2025. In 2025, Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam will join as partner countries.
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