BRICS security advisors to discuss key issues
January 9, 2013, 12:15 pm

Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon. [AP]

Indian National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon will be hosting the delegates from the five BRICS countries.

The Chinese delegation will be headed by State Councilor Dai Bingguo.

The conflict in Syria, the sanctions on Iran and counter-terror cooperation among the five member states are expected to be key issues to figure in the discussions.

The world’s five leading emerging economies, represented by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, had earlier in 2012, released a statement that condemns foreign interference in Syria.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reiterated, “We must avoid political disruptions that create volatilities in global energy markets and affect trade flows.”

He said, “We (BRICS) agreed that a lasting solution to the problems in Syria and Iran can only be found through dialogue.”

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has also said last year that she does not “support any embargo policy” and “escalation of pro-violence rhetoric.” She has called for “opening a room for compromise solution” on Iran.

Russia hosted a formal meeting of BRIC National Security Advisers (NSAs) in May 2009 to discuss the security implications of the global financial and economic crisis.

The second meeting of BRIC NSAs was held in Brasilia in April 2010 followed by a third in Sochi, Russia in October 2010.

BRICS now boast about 42 per cent of the world’s population and more than a quarter of its land.

According to IMF estimates, the five had a combined nominal gross domestic product of $13.6 trillion in 2011, about 19.5 per cent of the global total.

Since 2010, more than 50 per cent of global growth has come from the BRICS, and it has become an important force in easing the international financial and economic crisis, driving regional and global economic growth.

Source: Agencies