‘Disease Must Never Be Used as a Weapon’: Jaishankar Calls for Stronger Global Biosecurity at BWC’s 50th Anniversary

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday urged the international community to urgently strengthen global biosecurity and modernise the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), as the treaty marks 50 years since its adoption.

Speaking at the conference “50 Years of the Biological Weapons Convention: Strengthening Biosecurity for the Global South” in New Delhi, the minister warned that rapid scientific and technological advances in biotechnology are outpacing current global governance frameworks, creating new and complex security risks.

Opening his address with a clear moral message, Dr. Jaishankar stated, “We mark half a century of the BWC… disease must never be used as a weapon. Biology must serve peace, not advance harm.”

He described the BWC as the key safeguard preventing the misuse of biological research, but questioned whether it remains robust enough for the future. “The answer depends on the decisions we take now,” he said.

The minister highlighted that falling costs and widespread availability of advanced biological tools have created unprecedented vulnerabilities. Whether a biological threat is natural, accidental, or intentional, he warned, it spreads quickly, crosses borders effortlessly, and can overwhelm even strong health systems — making public health and national security inseparable.

Dr. Jaishankar emphasised that countries in the Global South face disproportionate risks due to limited healthcare capacity, weaker surveillance systems, and inadequate emergency response infrastructure. “If biosecurity is uneven, so is global safety. The Global South is the most vulnerable… and its voice must shape the next 50 years of the BWC,” he said.

He outlined India’s major strengths in global health and biotechnology: producing 60% of the world’s vaccines, supplying over 20% of global generic medicines (including 60% of Africa’s needs), and hosting nearly 11,000 biotech startups — the world’s third-largest biotech ecosystem. He also noted India’s advances in digital health, nationwide research networks, and high-containment laboratory capabilities.

Recalling India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which supplied nearly 300 million vaccine doses and medical aid to more than 100 vulnerable nations, Dr. Jaishankar said, “When faced with a health crisis of such proportions, solidarity saves lives.”

The minister also warned of the growing threat posed by non-state actors misusing biological technologies. “Bioterrorism is a serious concern… yet the BWC still lacks basic institutional structures. It has no compliance system, no permanent technical body, and no mechanism to track new scientific developments,” he said.

Calling for comprehensive reform, he reiterated India’s longstanding push for stronger verification and compliance tools, regular scientific reviews, and an updated and modern institutional framework. He also highlighted India’s National Implementation Framework, which includes oversight of dual-use research, incident management, and ongoing training.

As a responsible participant in non-proliferation regimes like the Wassenaar Arrangement, MTCR, and Australia Group, India remains committed to global biosecurity, he noted.

Concluding, Dr. Jaishankar said, “Norms survive only when nations renew them… We must modernise the Convention, keep pace with science and strengthen global capacity so that all countries can detect, prevent, and respond to biological risks. India stands ready.”

With inputs from IANS