The United Arab Emirates participated in the 11th annual meeting of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group, hosted in New Delhi, India, on May 21 and 22, with the participation of representatives from member countries, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the working group focused on combating terrorism.

The UAE delegation was headed by His Excellency Maksood Cruz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs' envoy for combating extremism and terrorism, who emphasized during the meeting the importance of continuing joint international efforts to address evolving security challenges and counter emerging threats related to extremism and terrorism.

UAE Commits to Strengthening International Cooperation Against Extremism and Terrorism at BRICS Meeting

The UAE delegation noted that rapid technological developments and the increasing spread of the digital space pose new challenges that require enhanced international cooperation and coordination, especially as terrorist organizations and extremist groups seek to exploit modern technologies, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence for recruitment, funding, and spreading extremist ideas.

As part of the joint presidency of the UAE and the People's Republic of China for the BRICS sub-working group focused on preventing the misuse of the internet for terrorist purposes, the UAE delegation presented a working paper discussing ways to develop international cooperation to counter the exploitation of digital platforms and emerging technologies by terrorist groups.

The delegation reviewed the experience of the United Arab Emirates in combating the financing of terrorism through the adopted legislative and institutional frameworks, affirming the country's firm stance in rejecting extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The United Arab Emirates emphasized the importance of enhancing the exchange of information and expertise between countries, expanding areas of cooperation in cybersecurity, and developing coordination mechanisms regarding modern financial technologies and virtual assets, which contributes to reducing their exploitation in illegal activities.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Emirati delegation held a series of bilateral meetings with delegations from India, Russia, and China to discuss cooperation opportunities, exchange experiences, and best practices in the fields of combating extremism and terrorism.

The United Arab Emirates reiterated its commitment to continue working with member states of the BRICS group and international partners to support efforts aimed at combating terrorism and enhancing security and stability at both regional and international levels.