BRICS not yet a defence cooperation platform, says Misri

Vikram Misri said BRICS is not yet a defence cooperation platform at the IISS Manama Dialogue. His remarks underscored the grouping's lack of concrete defence initiatives despite recent discussions.Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri speaks at the fifth plenary session on 'Maritime Security at an Inflection Point' during the 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue Regional Security Summit, in Bahrain. (Photo- PTI)Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has said that BRICS is not currently a defence cooperation platform or construct, adding that defence cooperation is not yet a major subject within the grouping.Responding to a question on BRICS and defence cooperation at the 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue Regional Security Summit in Bahrain, Misri said the issue had featured prominently at the recent BRICS summit but had yet to translate into concrete initiatives."BRICS is not really, at this stage, a defence cooperation construct," Misri said during the discussion at the summit's fifth plenary session, titled 'Maritime Security at an Inflection Point'.He noted that the issue had figured prominently during the recent BRICS summit and had played a significant role in shaping the declaration that emerged from the meeting. However, he clarified that the grouping had not yet moved towards actual initiatives on defence cooperation."In terms of actual initiatives with regard to this issue, we are not there yet, and defence cooperation is not yet a major subject in BRICS," he said. Misri also referred to existing mechanisms for maritime domain awareness cooperation, saying several observers had highlighted the initiatives already in place.Earlier, sharing India's perspective during the plenary session on maritime security, the Foreign Secretary emphasised the need to prioritise diplomacy over conflict, cooperation over confrontation, and the protection of seafarers and shipping.He also stressed the importance of preserving international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).The three-day 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue brought together ministers and senior dignitaries from across the world to discuss regional and international security challenges.- Ends