NSA Doval at Moscow Forum: No double standards on terrorism, warns responsible nations
Synopsis
At a multilateral security forum in Moscow, NSA Ajit Doval drew a hard line: nations must choose between sponsoring terrorism and confronting it — no middle ground. The message, delivered before security chiefs from multiple countries, comes days after Doval met US NSA Marco Rubio in New Delhi, signalling India's simultaneous engagement with Washington and Moscow on counter-terrorism and strategic security.
Key Takeaways
NSA Ajit Doval addressed the International Security Forum and 14th Meeting of High Representatives for Security Matters in Moscow on 28 May 2025 .
Doval declared there can be no double standards in the fight against terrorism, urging responsible nations to act decisively against terror sponsors.
He called for protecting trade movement through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea , flagging the West Asia situation as a priority concern.
Doval held a bilateral meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu , reviewing defence, energy, and economic cooperation.
The two sides discussed the upcoming BRICS NSA meeting to be held in New Delhi .
Earlier in the week, Doval met US NSA Marco Rubio in New Delhi for talks on the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and the TRUST initiative .
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Thursday, 28 May delivered a pointed message at the International Security Forum in Moscow, asserting that there can be no double standards in the global fight against terrorism and that responsible nations must choose decisively between supporting sponsors of terror and confronting them with firm action. The remarks came at the 14th Meeting of High Representatives for Security Matters, hosted by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu.
Key Remarks at the Forum
Addressing a gathering of National Security Advisors and security chiefs from several countries, Doval framed terrorism as a litmus test for national responsibility. 'Responsible nations have to evaluate their choices and decide whether they support sponsors of terrorism or counter them with decisive action,' the Indian Embassy in Russia posted on X, paraphrasing his remarks at the forum.
The forum, themed around 'Challenges and Threats to International Security in the context of the Emergence of the Multipolar World', drew senior security officials from multiple nations and served as a platform for India to articulate its counter-terrorism stance before a broad multilateral audience.
West Asia and Maritime Security
Doval also called for special attention to the deteriorating situation in West Asia, stressing the need to ensure safe and uninterrupted movement of trade through international waterways. He specifically named the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea as critical arteries whose security demands collective commitment — a reference to ongoing disruptions that have rattled global shipping and energy supply chains.
Bilateral Meeting with Shoigu
On the sidelines of the forum, Doval held a bilateral meeting with Shoigu, during which the two sides reviewed ongoing cooperation in defence, security, energy, and economic ties. They also exchanged views on the upcoming BRICS NSA meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi. Doval is expected to hold additional bilateral meetings on the forum's second day, Friday, 29 May.
India-US Security Engagement
The Moscow visit follows a high-profile meeting earlier in the week, when US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio travelled to New Delhi for talks with Doval. Those discussions centred on defence, security, and strategic technology cooperation, including the TRUST initiative. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that 'the two NSAs reiterated the high priority accorded to the bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership' and exchanged views on regional and global issues.
What This Signals
India's back-to-back high-level security engagements — first with Washington, then in Moscow — underscore New Delhi's sustained effort to pursue strategic autonomy while pressing its counter-terrorism agenda across competing global blocs. The BRICS NSA meeting in New Delhi, expected in the near term, will be the next major diplomatic test of that balancing act.
Point of View
Days after hosting US NSA Rubio in New Delhi, the timing underlines India's deliberate strategy of pressing its counter-terrorism agenda across rival great-power blocs simultaneously. The BRICS NSA meeting in New Delhi will be the real test of whether that message translates into coordinated multilateral pressure or remains a headline without follow-through.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did NSA Ajit Doval say at the Moscow Security Forum?
NSA Ajit Doval stated that there can be no double standards in the fight against terrorism and that responsible nations must decide whether they support sponsors of terrorism or counter them with decisive action. He made these remarks at the International Security Forum and 14th Meeting of High Representatives for Security Matters in Moscow on 28 May 2025.
Why did Doval raise the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea?
Doval called for ensuring safe and uninterrupted movement of trade through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea while addressing the security situation in West Asia. These waterways are critical to global energy and shipping flows, which have faced disruption due to regional tensions.
What was discussed in the Doval-Shoigu bilateral meeting?
NSA Doval and Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu reviewed ongoing India-Russia cooperation in defence, security, energy, and economic ties. They also exchanged views on the upcoming BRICS NSA meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi.
What is the TRUST initiative mentioned in connection with the Doval-Rubio meeting?
The TRUST initiative is a strategic technology cooperation framework that featured in discussions between NSA Doval and US NSA Marco Rubio during their meeting in New Delhi earlier in the same week. The Ministry of External Affairs noted that both sides reaffirmed the high priority of the bilateral Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
What is the significance of India engaging both Russia and the US on security in the same week?
India's back-to-back high-level security engagements — hosting US NSA Rubio in New Delhi and then sending Doval to Moscow — reflect New Delhi's policy of strategic autonomy, pursuing defence and security ties with competing global powers simultaneously while advancing its own counter-terrorism agenda.
