BRICS Counter-Terrorism WG strengthens international cooperation

Brasil's Intelligence Agency (ABIN) will coordinate the group’s work, focusing on de-radicalization, improper use of the Internet, and financing

By Brazilian Intelligence Agency

In the context of Brasil’s BRICS Presidency in 2025, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Agência Brasileira de Inteligência /ABIN) is in charge of coordinating the activities of the Counter-Terrorism Working Group – CTWG, according to the calendar of events organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores /MRE). The CTWG was designed as a mechanism to strengthen cooperation and coordinate efforts by the BRICS countries to address Terrorism and Violent Extremism.

The 10th meeting of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group will occur on June 4-6 in Brasilia, Federal District. Throughout the past years, the CTWG has established itself as an active and well-structured working group.

The WG is currently divided into five sub-groups, each with its own agenda of activities and specific thematic areas, including de-radicalization, improper use of the Internet for terrorist purposes, terrorism financing, and capacity building for the prevention and combat of terrorism – this latter under the joint coordination of Brasil and Ethiopia.

The phenomenon of violent extremism is a common threat to all countries, taking different forms, which has led to its growing importance on Brasil’s security and intelligence agendas in recent years.

“The group has established itself as a space for exchanging experiences and best practices, making it a highly conducive arena for international cooperation,” explained Ana Ribeiro, Director of the Department of External Intelligence at ABIN.

In addition to coordinating the CTWG, ABIN also provides technical support to other meetings scheduled by Brasil’s BRICS Presidency and contributes to the organization, security, and logistics —including risk and vulnerability assessment of the events.