NATO and BRICS: The Start of The New Digital Race
RegulationBit News Today2 min read
BRICS members have committed to enhancing their ongoing exchange of ideas and collaboration during international engagements. At the 4th BRICS Ministers of Communication Meeting, participants emphasized the importance of expanding ICT infrastructure investments and sharing deployment innovations to advance universal telecommunications access.
BRICS Digital Transformation and Regulatory Cooperation
They stated that these technological advancements present “unequaled” opportunities for BRICS members to boost productivity, improve competitiveness, and promote innovation.
PartNIR focuses on deepening BRICS collaboration in digitalization, industrialization, innovation, inclusiveness, and investment to seize opportunities and address Fourth Industrial Revolution challenges, alongside the DBTF's work on ICT readiness. PartNIR aims to deepen BRICS cooperation in areas such as digitalization, industrialization, innovation, inclusiveness, and investment. Meanwhile, the DBTF will focus on promoting ICT infrastructure, enhancing digital transformation, and facilitating innovation technologies to better prepare BRICS for the fourth industrial revolution.
As part of these efforts, the ministers also encouraged the establishment of a BRICS ICT Regulators Forum to share best practices and facilitate capacity building in the ICT sector. The forum will work under the guidance of BRICS communication ministers and could potentially develop its work program and modus operandi. Additionally, BRICS nations pledged to strengthen their cooperation and engagement within international organizations, like the UN, ITU, and G20 to advance their mutual initiatives on the global stage.
BRICS Future Network Infrastructure and Technological Projects
The ministers expressed appreciation for the work of the Focus Group of the BRICS Institute of Future Networks (BIFN) and approved a model for creating a decentralized BIFN Council. BRICS ministers also agreed to establish a decentralized Council, composed of representatives designated by each country's Communication Minister, to decide on BIFN's terms of reference and work program. Each BRICS member will decide on its level of participation and appoint a premium national body or establish such a body to serve as the local BIFN branch.
Additionally, they highlighted the importance of government investment and support for the development and innovation of ICT SMMEs and the broader technology sector. They emphasized the importance of increased ICT infrastructure investment, best practice-sharing, and capacity building to promote widespread and secure adoption of ICT for societal benefit.
Communications ministers also noted presentations on a Russian and Chinese project to improve internet DNS sustainability, as well as Indian initiatives regarding DigiLocker and 5G and M2M cooperation. The rapid evolution of industrial internet technologies in China was also noted.
In contrast, NATO documents describe Russia as undermining Euro-Atlantic security and stability through hybrid actions. These Russian hybrid actions include malicious cyber activities, widespread disinformation campaigns, attempts to interfere in election processes, and infringements on national sovereignty, such as in Montenegro. Hybrid actions highlighted by NATO included attempted election interference, disinformation campaigns, and sovereignty violations, as was the case in Montenegro.
To counter these growing threats, NATO leaders declared that cyber-defense is a core task of collective defense. They pledged to optimize NATO intelligence, strengthen situational awareness, and support Allies' national cyber-defense efforts. Alliance members agreed on procedures to incorporate voluntary, sovereign cyber capabilities into NATO missions and operations subject to firm political oversight. NATO also pledged to develop an overarching NATO Space Policy and support Allies in preparing for and responding to hybrid threats.
