Indo-Pacific — 2026-06-21

India Hosts BRICS Security Conclave With Wang Yi and Shoigu as Bloc Addresses Ukraine and West Asia Tensions

BLUFIndia is leveraging its BRICS chairmanship to manage internal bloc fractures on Ukraine and Iran before the September summit, while Beijing and Tehran treat the security forum as a vehicle for bilateral diplomatic advances.

India's NSA Ajit Doval will chair the 16th BRICS National Security Advisors meeting in New Delhi on June 22-23, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian NSA Sergei Shoigu confirmed to attend 12. Iran is sending Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejad rather than an NSA-level official; ETV Bharat quoted analyst Aftab Kamal Pasha attributing the choice to Tehran's interest in resuming oil exports before a US-Iran deal closes 3. The declared agenda addresses non-traditional security challenges, specifically cybersecurity and AI-enabled threats, with delegates reviewing the BRICS Joint Working Groups on Counter-Terrorism and ICT Security 23. Wang Yi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Doval on the margins; Outlook India reported the conclave precedes the September 12-13 BRICS leaders' summit, where Xi and Putin are expected 1.

Analysis
The meeting's diplomatic utility to Beijing and Tehran exceeds its stated security coordination function. Wang Yi's attendance as China's senior foreign affairs official, not a formal security counterpart, marks his second India visit since the November 2024 LAC disengagement, with bilateral talks with Doval as the operational center of gravity. Tehran's petroleum minister substitution confirms Iran is pre-positioning on oil exports ahead of any US-Iran deal; all sourcing is Indian-domestic, with no Chinese state media or Western diplomatic reporting. Doval's chairmanship gives New Delhi leverage to manage the Ukraine and West Asia fault lines dividing members, though Wang Yi's presence may instead reflect Beijing's concern that India could steer the cybersecurity agenda toward governance frameworks adverse to Chinese interests.

4 sources

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi To Visit India Next Week For BRICS Security Talks - Outlook India
India to host key Brics security conclave amid rising geopolitical tensions - Business Standard
From Cybersecurity To Energy Cooperation: The Significance Of BRICS NSAs Meeting - ETV Bharat
India to host key BRICS security conclave amid rising geopolitical tensions - ChinaPulse