Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the urgent need for India to strengthen its offensive and defensive capabilities in light of the current global turmoil and complex geopolitical landscape. Speaking at an event commemorating the “Year of Naval Civilians,” he highlighted the necessity for comprehensive planning, resourcing, and budgeting to enhance India’s security posture amidst ongoing conflicts worldwide.
Singh noted that the past ten years had been very unstable, with numerous conflicts occurring in various parts of the world. In order to properly handle upcoming issues, he urged input from all stakeholders and called for a consultative approach.
He emphasized that both military troops and civilian workers are essential to the Indian Armed Forces’ efforts to be equipped and ready for changing threats.
Singh also reaffirmed the significance of marine security for India’s economic development, emphasizing the need to protect territorial waters and guarantee freedom of navigation.
He cited India’s expanding naval capability as seen by the recent commissioning of three warships: INS Surat, INS Nilgiri, and INS Vaghsheer. He also recognized the changing landscape in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where major naval countries have scaled back their presence, raising the number of possible threats India has to deal with.
