By A Correspondent
New Delhi: At a high-stakes global conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar issued a stark warning: biological threats are evolving faster than global governance systems, and unless the world, especially the Global South, acts now, the coming decades could see unprecedented biosecurity challenges.
Speaking at the Conference on “50 Years of the BWC: Strengthening Biosecurity for the Global South,” Jaishankar stressed that the treaty, which once served as a moral and legal firewall against biowarfare, is now being outpaced by scientific advances like synthetic biology, genome editing, and AI-driven biological design.
Bioterrorism is no longer a distant possibility
Jaishankar underlined the growing threat of deliberate misuse of biology, stating that the line between peaceful research and dangerous dual-use technology has never been thinner.
He warned that rapid advances in biotech, falling costs of genetic sequencing, and the proliferation of DIY biological tools have “raised new and urgent questions” for global security.
The minister said the BWC still lacks basic architecture: no verification regime, no standing technical body, and no mechanism to monitor emerging scientific trends. “These gaps must be bridged for confidence to be strengthened,” he urged.
Why the Global South is at greatest risk
In a pointed message, Jaishankar said the Global South is disproportionately vulnerable, owing to fragile health systems, weak surveillance networks, and limited access to vaccines, diagnostics, and emergency-response tools.
“If biosecurity is uneven, so is global safety,” he stated, calling for Global South nations to shape the next 50 years of the BWC rather than remain passive recipients of global decisions.
The COVID-19 pandemic, he reminded the audience, exposed both the speed of biological threats and the weaknesses of global preparedness.
India positions itself as a biosecurity leader
Jaishankar highlighted how India has built formidable bioscience and public-health capacities, making it uniquely positioned to support the Global South:
- 60% of global vaccines are manufactured in India
- 20% of global generics, including 60% of Africa’s, come from India
- India now hosts 11,000 biotech startups, up from just 50 in 2014
- Massive advances in digital health infrastructure
- A robust national network including ICMR, DBT labs, and advanced BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities
He cited the example of Vaccine Maitri, under which India supplied nearly 300 million doses and medical aid to over 100 vulnerable nations, many at no cost. “Solidarity saves lives,” he stressed, reiterating India’s commitment to being a reliable partner.
India’s non-proliferation commitments highlighted
Reinforcing India’s record, Jaishankar noted India’s strong compliance with UNSC Resolution 1540, its export-control laws, and its membership in key global groups like the Wassenaar Arrangement, MTCR, and Australia Group, the latter of special relevance due to its focus on controlling sensitive chemical and biological materials.
Since 2019, India has run an annual disarmament and international security fellowship and recently expanded capacity-building programmes for Asia-Pacific and African nations.
A push for a modernised BWC
India is proposing a National Implementation Framework covering:
- Oversight of dual-use research
- Identification of high-risk biological agents
- Domestic reporting and incident management
- Continuous training and preparedness
Jaishankar emphasised that assistance during biological incidents must be “fast, practical, and purely humanitarian.”
Norms survive only when nations renew them
Closing his address, Jaishankar called on nations to modernize the BWC, keep pace with rapid scientific advances, and strengthen global capacities to detect, prevent, and respond to biological threats.
“Biology must serve peace, not harm. India stands ready,” he affirmed.
The conference serves as a precursor to the upcoming BWC Working Group session and Meeting of States Parties in Geneva, where many of these proposals are expected to take center stage.
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