Doval calls Strait of Hormuz opening a boost for energy security at BRICS meet
NSA Ajit Doval said the opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a positive step for global energy security while addressing the BRICS NSAs conclave in New Delhi. He highlighted geopolitical uncertainties, disruptive technologies and the need for stronger multilateral cooperation
New Delhi: The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a very welcome move for global energy security, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval said on Tuesday, welcoming his counterparts from BRICS nations at a key conclave here.
In his televised opening remarks at the BRICS NSAs meeting, Doval, while referring to the impact of “geopolitical uncertainties and economic strains”, underlined the need for the grouping to play a significant role in addressing global challenges.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu, Iranian security official Ghadir Nezamipour and other senior BRICS security officials attended the meeting chaired by Doval.
“India welcomes the MoU reached between the US and Iran. We have cautious optimism, and we hope that it will work. It will help energy security,” Doval said.
“The opening of the Strait of Hormuz is a very welcome development. It will remove supply chain bottlenecks and address shortages in sectors like fertilisers and chemicals,” he said.
Doval emphasised the importance of BRICS in navigating global challenges.
“We are meeting at a very tumultuous time. The world is facing geopolitical uncertainties, economic strains and disruptive technologies,” he said.
“Not only are the threats compounding, but the instruments and institutional mechanisms are increasingly finding themselves inadequate to resolve or mitigate these conflicts,” he added.
“Multilateralism is on the decline,” he said, adding that BRICS has a major role to play in addressing global challenges.
New Delhi hosted the conclave in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping.
BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
The grouping has emerged as an influential bloc representing about 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of global GDP and nearly 26 per cent of global trade.
Doval said BRICS was conceived as an informal grouping of emerging economies aimed at a more multipolar world order.
“It was to advance economic cooperation and strengthen the voice of the Global South,” he said.
He added that BRICS also envisioned reforms in global governance and institutional improvements.
The NSA said the conclave will also discuss outcomes of two BRICS joint working groups on counter-terrorism.
“We need to be cognisant of new security threats and challenges. Non-traditional threats have transcended national borders and have developed capabilities that challenge conventional responses,” he said.
Doval also flagged concerns over non-traditional security threats, including those emerging from disruptive technologies.
“They all constitute an important threat for us. Today, we will be navigating some of these non-traditional security challenges in our collective deliberations,” he said.
