Defence Minister Rajnath Singh delivered a powerful message about India's strategic position in global affairs during his address at the Chanakya Defence conclave in New Delhi on Friday, November 29, 2025. Speaking on the second day of the two-day event, Singh emphasized that while India believes in peace and dialogue, the nation will never compromise when it comes to sovereignty and security.
India's Growing Global Stature
Rajnath Singh highlighted that India has transformed into a voice of balance and responsibility in the current global environment. He noted that countries across the Indo-Pacific region and the Global South now view New Delhi as a reliable partner. This growing trust, according to the Defence Minister, stems from India's path-breaking reforms and its consistent stand for respecting national sovereignty and maintaining a rules-based international order.
The minister elaborated on how India's economic growth, technological capabilities, and principled foreign policy have contributed to this enhanced global standing. "India is shaping global discussions with a sense of responsibility, strategic autonomy and confidence rooted in our civilisational values," Singh told the audience gathered for the significant defence event.
Modernizing Defence Capabilities
Singh addressed the numerous security challenges facing the nation, including terrorism, cross-border support to extremist elements, attempts to alter status quo, maritime pressures, and information warfare. He stressed that these threats require constant vigilance and that military reforms have become a strategic necessity rather than merely a choice.
The Defence Minister outlined several key initiatives underway to strengthen India's security apparatus:
- Strengthening border and maritime infrastructure to support both security and connectivity
- Modernizing armed forces through new platforms, technologies, and structures
- Reforming procurement processes to ensure speed, transparency, and accountability
- Building a defence industrial ecosystem through Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) that encourages innovation and reduces external dependencies
Building Future-Ready Defence
Singh revealed that India is actively investing in start-ups, deep-tech capabilities, and research and development programs that will shape the battlefields of the future. He emphasized that resilience is as crucial as capability, stating that "a resilient India can absorb shocks, adapt quickly, and continue moving forward irrespective of the circumstances."
The Defence Minister praised the armed forces as the strongest pillar of the nation's resilience, highlighting their capability, readiness, restraint, and firmness as driving forces that enable India to handle neighborhood challenges while contributing to regional stability.
Singh elaborated on the multifaceted role of India's armed forces beyond border defence:
- Bringing stability where it is needed most
- Supporting civil authorities during disasters
- Safeguarding maritime interests
- Strengthening international partnerships through joint exercises and peacekeeping missions
The Defence Minister's address at the Chanakya Defence conclave reinforced India's dual approach of maintaining peaceful dialogue while standing firm on matters of national security and sovereignty in an increasingly complex global landscape.
