External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has issued a strong warning about the escalating threat of bioterrorism, emphasizing the urgent need for all nations to enhance their preparedness. Speaking at a conference in New Delhi on Monday, December 1, 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), Jaishankar called for a comprehensive overhaul of global biosecurity frameworks.
Jaishankar highlighted that the convergence of rapid advancements in biotechnology and an increasingly volatile global security landscape has amplified vulnerabilities worldwide. He cautioned that the misuse of biological agents by non-state actors is no longer a remote possibility but a real and present danger. He stressed that biological threats, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate, can spread rapidly across borders and overwhelm existing systems.
The Minister underscored the critical gaps within the BWC, noting the absence of a compliance system, a permanent technical body, and a mechanism to monitor emerging scientific developments. He asserted that these deficiencies must be addressed to bolster global confidence in the convention. Jaishankar reiterated India's long-standing advocacy for stronger compliance measures under the BWC, including verification mechanisms tailored to contemporary needs and systematic reviews of scientific and technological advancements to ensure governance keeps pace with innovation.
Jaishankar also drew attention to the vulnerabilities faced by many countries in the Global South, including fragile healthcare systems, weak surveillance, limited laboratory capacity, and unequal access to medicines and vaccines. He warned that these gaps pose risks not only to individual nations but also to global safety, emphasizing that "if biosecurity is uneven, so is global safety". He advocated for the Global South's voice to be central in shaping the future of the BWC.
Highlighting India's commitment to global health security, Jaishankar outlined the country's strengths, including its capacity to produce 60% of the world's vaccines. He also emphasized India's proposal for a National Implementation Framework, encompassing the identification of high-risk agents, oversight of dual-use research, domestic reporting, incident management, and continuous training.
Jaishankar stressed the importance of international cooperation and assistance during biological emergencies, advocating for responses that are "fast, practical, and purely humanitarian". He reiterated India's support for global cooperation and assistance to facilitate the exchange of materials and equipment for peaceful use. He stated that systems for detecting natural outbreaks can also help counter deliberate ones, and no country can manage such threats alone.
In closing, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to the core principle of the BWC: that disease must never be used as a weapon. He urged nations to modernize the convention, keep pace with scientific advancements, and strengthen global capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to biological risks. He asserted India's readiness to serve as a trusted partner of the Global South and a committed supporter of global biosecurity.
