From Energy Security to Cyber Threats: NSA Doval Outlines BRICS Agenda, Welcomes US-Iran Deal

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday said India welcomes the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached between the United States and Iran, expressing cautious optimism that it will contribute to regional stability, strengthen energy security and improve global trade flows.

Addressing the 16th BRICS National Security Advisors' Meeting, Doval said the agreement could help ease supply chain disruptions, address shortages in sectors such as fertilisers and chemicals, and ensure smoother navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

"We have got cautious optimism, and we hope that it will work. It will help energy security. The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a very welcome development. It will remove supply chain bottlenecks, and many of the shortages in the field of fertilisers and chemicals, among others, will be addressed," he said.

The NSA's remarks came days after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an MoU aimed at ending hostilities and extending a ceasefire while negotiations continue on Tehran's nuclear programme and regional security issues.

Doval made the remarks while addressing the BRICS security meeting, where he highlighted the growing role of the grouping in a rapidly changing global landscape. Describing BRICS as far more than a coalition of nations, he said the bloc represents nearly half of the world's population and contributes more than 30 per cent of global GDP.

"We have a special role to play in a world which appears to be in turmoil, which appears to be changing," Doval said, noting that the international order is facing military conflicts, geopolitical uncertainty, economic strain and disruptive technologies.

He also warned that traditional mechanisms for conflict resolution are increasingly proving inadequate and observed that multilateralism is on the decline at a time when global cooperation is most needed.

The NSA stressed that BRICS nations must remain alert to emerging non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks and challenges arising from rapidly evolving technologies.

"Non-traditional threats have transcended national borders. Innovative disruptive technologies, more camouflaged variants of terrorism, and cyber threats in an increasingly digitised world all constitute important challenges for us," he said.

Doval added that the meeting would also review the work of BRICS joint working groups on counter-terrorism and information and communication technology security, underscoring the need for greater cooperation to address evolving global security challenges.