India urges BWC modernization

India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, warned that the threat of biological weapons and bioterrorism is no longer theoretical, urging the international community to modernize global biosecurity frameworks under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). Speaking at a conference marking 50 years of the BWC, he highlighted the convention's structural inadequacies, including the lack of a compliance system, a permanent technical body, and a mechanism to track new scientific developments. S. Jaishankar reiterated India's support for stronger compliance and verification mechanisms and proposed a National Implementation Framework for biosecurity. He emphasized the importance of international cooperation, especially for the Global North and Global South, which is most vulnerable to biological threats. S. Jaishankar also showcased India's strong capacities in public health, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and biosciences, positioning India as a trusted partner in global biosecurity efforts. The COVID-19 pandemic was cited as a critical learning experience underscoring the need for integrated public health and security systems.