Jaishankar Warns Global Community: ‘Disease Must Never Be Weaponised’ at BWC 50th Anniversary
At Biological Weapons Convention anniversary meet, India pushes for urgent global reforms, stronger compliance, and equal biosecurity capacity for the Global South.
New Delhi, Dec 01 : External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Monday called for sweeping global reforms to strengthen biosecurity and fortify the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) as the landmark treaty marks its 50th anniversary.
Speaking at the international conference titled “50 Years of the Biological Weapons Convention: Strengthening Biosecurity for the Global South” in New Delhi, Jaishankar warned that rapid scientific advancements are outpacing global governance mechanisms, creating unprecedented risks for international security.
Emphasising the ethical foundation of the treaty, the minister said, “We mark half a century of the BWC… disease must never be used as a weapon. Biology must serve peace, not advance harm.”
He noted that while the BWC remains a crucial safeguard against misuse of biological research, its continued effectiveness depends on urgent decisions taken today. “Whether this guardrail remains strong for the next 50 years depends on what we choose now,” he said.
Jaishankar highlighted growing vulnerabilities in global health systems, especially within the Global South, where gaps in surveillance, laboratory safety and emergency response remain severe. “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 stressed.
Underscoring India’s leadership in global health and biotechnology, he outlined the nation’s strengths: India produces 60% of global vaccines, supplies over 20% of generic medicines, houses nearly 11,000 biotech startups, and has a fast-growing digital health ecosystem supported by cutting-edge research labs.
Recalling India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which delivered nearly 300 million vaccine doses to over 100 countries, he said global solidarity must remain central when confronting large-scale health crises.
Jaishankar also warned of emerging threats from non-state actors using advanced biological tools. “Bioterrorism is a serious concern. Yet the BWC still lacks a compliance system, a permanent technical body, or mechanisms to track scientific progress,” he cautioned.
Calling for modernisation of the treaty, the minister reiterated India’s long-standing push for a robust verification mechanism, scientific review processes and stronger institutional frameworks. He also highlighted India’s own National Implementation Framework covering biosafety, surveillance, high-risk agent oversight and continuous training.
“Norms survive only when nations renew them,” Jaishankar concluded. “We must modernise the Convention, keep pace with science, and build global capacity to detect and respond to biological risks. India stands ready.”
