BRICS foreign ministers called for countering the use of drones for terrorist purposes

The foreign ministers of the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) at a meeting in Cape Town called for the need to strengthen mechanisms to counter the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and other technologies for terrorist purposes. This was stated in a widespread statement following the meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers.

“It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen the mechanism to counter the increased use <...> of new technologies, such as UAVs, the Internet and other information and communication tools, including social media, by terrorists and their accomplices for extremist purposes,” the final document says.

The ministers of the five countries condemned terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations” and called to counter terrorism, including the cross-border movement of extremist groups, and the elimination of sources of its financing.

The final statement affirms that terrorism cannot be associated with any religion, nationality, ethnic group or cultural tradition and emphasizes the fundamental role of state structures in the eradication of terrorism, with the coordinating role of the UN. The ministers rejected the use of double standards in this area and called for multilateral negotiations to formalize an international convention on combating biological and chemical terrorism. The participants called for deepening cooperation to combat terrorism within the framework of the BRICS.