New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar warned that the threat of biological weapons being misused by non-state actors is no longer a distant risk, urging the global community to modernise the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). He said the pact, now 50 years old, lacks basic institutional structures, has no compliance system, and remains unable to track rapid advances in biotechnology.
Speaking at a conference marking five decades of the BWC and focused on biosecurity for the Global South, Jaishankar said the world must update the convention to match today’s scientific and technological landscape. He reiterated India’s demand for verification mechanisms suited to current realities and for regular reviews of emerging technologies to ensure global governance keeps pace with innovation.
Jaishankar highlighted India’s consistent support for non-proliferation norms and its strong legal framework to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1540 on preventing the spread of sensitive and dual-use technologies. He described bioterrorism as a serious concern that requires urgent international preparedness.
He noted that the BWC still lacks essential systems such as a permanent technical body and a mechanism to monitor new scientific developments. These gaps, he said, weaken global confidence and must be addressed. India has proposed a National Implementation Framework covering oversight of high-risk agents, dual-use research, domestic reporting, incident management and continuous training of personnel.
Jaishankar said India supports quick, practical and humanitarian assistance during biological incidents and backs global cooperation to ensure the peaceful exchange of biological materials and related equipment.
Reflecting on the BWC’s founding principle that “humanity rejects disease as a weapon,” he said norms survive only when nations actively renew them. He called for a modern, science-aligned BWC and stronger global capacity so that every country can detect, prevent and respond to biological threats. India, he added, is ready to act as a trusted partner for the Global South.
The minister pointed out that the international security landscape has become more uncertain as technological advances make sophisticated biotechnology tools more accessible and affordable. The Covid-19 pandemic, he said, exposed weaknesses in public health systems and highlighted the speed at which biological threats can spread across borders, overwhelming even strong healthcare networks.
He stressed that natural and deliberate biological threats require a unified response where public health and security reinforce each other. Early-detection systems for natural outbreaks, he said, can also help identify deliberate attacks. No country can manage these challenges alone, making international cooperation essential.
Jaishankar emphasised that the Global South must be central in shaping the future of the BWC, noting that many developing nations face fragile healthcare systems, weak surveillance and limited laboratory capacity. Uneven biosecurity, he said, creates uneven global safety. The Global South is both the most vulnerable and the most important contributor to building stronger biosecurity.
He added that India has a responsibility to support these nations due to its strength in public health, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biosciences. India supplies more than 20% of the world’s generic medicines, and nearly 60% of Africa’s generics come from India. With expanded healthcare investment and a strong research network, India can detect and respond to a wide range of biological risks and will continue to be a dependable global partner.
