A router configured to implement Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) includes circuitry configured to receive BGP updates from one or more BGP peers connected to the router, detect a trigger related to BGP updates where the trigger is indicative of a need to apply backpressure by the one or more BGP peers, and send a backpressure notification message to the one or more BGP peers based on the trigger, such that the one or more BGP peers apply the backpressure. The circuitry can be further configured to monitor one or more criteria associated with operation of the router, for the trigger.