In a world that's increasingly interconnected, where every nation's security relies on global efforts, Ajit Doval, India's National Security Advisor (NSA), brought attention to the critical role of cybersecurity during a crucial meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting involved high-ranking representatives from the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as well as 'Friends of BRICS', which included several African countries and others from the Global South.

Doval painted a vivid picture of how terrorists and cybercriminals are leveraging the internet for nefarious activities like financing, money laundering, radicalization, and organizing lone wolf attacks. He also highlighted the use of the internet for recruitment and secured communications. These discussions took place in the presence of key figures such as Nikolai Patrushev, Russia's Security Council Chief, and China's top diplomat Wang Yi, who now serves as the Director of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The 'Friends of BRICS' meeting was organized in the backdrop of South Africa's current BRICS chairship, which has a theme centered around partnership for accelerated growth, sustainable development, and inclusive multilateralism. This resonates with the need for collective growth and development, focusing on creating an inclusive international community that encourages collaboration and mutual respect. Security officials from African nations and the Global South actively participated in the discussions, signifying the importance of the meeting.

In attendance were representatives from Iran, Burundi, Egypt, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, UAE, and Belarus, among others. The convergence of these nations underscored the significance of security heads from BRICS member countries engaging with their counterparts from 'Friends of BRICS'. Such interactions were deemed essential to the development of a fair and equitable architecture for international relations.

Doval, representing India, emphasized that the Global South needs to overcome resource limitations, reassuring the participants that India would always strive to support developing countries in their pursuits. He cautioned that the gravity of cyber risks will only grow with the emergence of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things. Furthermore, he expressed concerns about the potential misuse of social media platforms by extremist groups aiming to radicalize the youth.

Russia, represented by Patrushev, echoed the sentiment that countries are interested in deepening cooperation with BRICS, which is seen as an attractive platform for the Global South and East. BRICS, he noted, does not have a confrontational or hidden agenda.

Patrushev's office released a statement detailing the discussions on international information security challenges facing developing countries. He proposed that work should continue on establishing a universal international legal regime for the digital environment. This regime should be grounded in the principles of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs.

The meeting reiterated the intention to move towards a multipolar system based on principles of sovereign equality, trust, and indivisible security. The participants acknowledged the importance of maintaining a confidential dialogue and expressed interest in resolving global security issues.

Ajit Doval has more bilateral meetings scheduled during his visit to South Africa. This meeting forms part of the build-up to the 15th BRICS Summit, the first in-person gathering of BRICS leaders in three years. It is slated to be held in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24. At this summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will further articulate his vision of utilizing India’s current G20 presidency to amplify the voice of the Global South. This comes with the aim of collectively shaping the global agenda, thereby accentuating the importance of South-South Cooperation.

Representing about 3.2 billion people, the BRICS nations form one of the largest blocs of countries in terms of population. Meetings like these exemplify the significance of international collaboration in addressing security challenges, highlighting the potential for shared solutions in a rapidly digitizing world.