About Guwahati Declaration:
- It was adopted by the BRICS nations to strengthen cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime.
- The declaration was adopted at the conclusion of the two-day BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting held in Guwahati, Assam.
- It was held under India's 2026 BRICS chairship, themed "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,".
- The meeting brought together representatives from Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia and the United Arab Emirates to discuss coordinated strategies against global drug trafficking.
- The joint declaration calls for greater cooperation through the timely exchange of information, intelligence and best practices, in line with national laws and international obligations.
- It also highlights the importance of using innovative technologies, digital tools and data-driven approaches to improve law enforcement and regulatory measures against drug trafficking.
- The declaration also stresses the need to strengthen efforts to reduce drug demand, promote healthy lifestyles and protect vulnerable groups, especially children and young people, through evidence-based and people-centred strategies.
Key Facts about BRICS:
- It is an intergovernmental organization of major emerging economies that aims to create greater economic and geopolitical integration and coordination among member states.
- BRICS, originally coined by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill in 2001, started as the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China), with South Africa joining later in 2010 to form BRICS.
- It was expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with Indonesia joining in 2025.
- The grouping has emerged as an influential bloc, bringing together 11 major emerging economies that account for around 49.5 percent of the world's population, about 40 percent of global GDP and nearly 26 percent of global trade.
- In addition to the 11 member nations, 10 partner countries joined BRICS in 2025 -- Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
