Source: TH
Context
On 7 July 2026, at the conclusion of the two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting held in Guwahati, Assam (6–7 July 2026), BRICS nations officially adopted the Guwahati Declaration, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking and transnational organised crime, with a strong focus on real-time intelligence sharing, digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and coordinated law enforcement.
The Guwahati Declaration at a glance
- What: Multi-lateral security pact on anti-drug cooperation among BRICS members.
- Where signed: Guwahati, Assam, India.
- Meeting name: BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting.
- India’s BRICS 2026 theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) — Union Minister Amit Shah.
Countries That Attended the Meeting
- Brazil
- China
- Ethiopia
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Russia
- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
(Note: Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Africa were not listed in reports of the delegation participation for this meeting.)
Aim of the Guwahati Declaration
- Build a fast, high-trust, border-free law enforcement network.
- Balance technology-driven interdiction with evidence-based social demand reduction.
- Combat global narcotics trade, transnational organised syndicates, and financial tracking vulnerabilities enabling international money laundering.
- Modernise & unify anti-narcotics framework across expanded BRICS.
About BRICS
- Full form: Originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa; expanded post-2024.
- First conceived: 2001 by economist Jim O’Neill (Goldman Sachs) as “BRIC”.
- First formal summit: Yekaterinburg, Russia, 2009.
- South Africa joined: 2010 (BRIC → BRICS).
- 5 new members joined 1 January 2024: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia (Saudi status still ambiguous per some sources).
- Indonesia joined: January 2025 (first Southeast Asian member).
- Current full members (2026): 10 confirmed (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Indonesia); 11 if Saudi Arabia is counted (its status listed on official BRICS India 2026 website but formal accession not publicly confirmed).
- Partner Countries (since 2024 Kazan Summit): 10 — Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
- Chairship rotation: Annual — 2025 Brazil, 2026 India.
