The defense ministry described defense diplomacy as “a core pillar of India’s foreign policy” and stated that the document provides a clear, practical strategy for the next decade, according to Vallari Parashar of News18.com.
India has publicly announced a long-term defense diplomacy policy with the unveiling of RAKSHA, a 10-year framework unveiled by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh at Kartavya Bhawan in New Delhi in September 2026.
The paper represents a move from transaction-based foreign defense engagement to a systematic framework that includes strategic partnerships, military training, defense exports, and marine cooperation.Defense Industry
According to the Ministry of Defense, defense diplomacy is a critical component of India’s foreign policy, and RAKSHA gives a clear and concrete vision for the next decade. The framework is designed to integrate national security goals with international cooperation while assuring continuity beyond the term of any single government.
Previously, many defense engagements, such as joint exercises, training opportunities, defense agreements, export arrangements, and lines of credit, were pursued on a country-by-country basis. RAKSHA aims to bring these disparate activities together under a single long-term plan that includes the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of External Affairs, the armed forces, and the National Security Council Secretariat.
A significant focus is on strengthening security partnerships with friendly countries through bilateral and multilateral frameworks. Training remains key to this approach, drawing on India’s long-standing role in educating foreign military commanders at schools like the National Defense College in New Delhi and the Defense Services Staff College in Wellington.
Defense exports are another important pillar. Indian missions overseas will play a larger role in promoting domestically manufactured military equipment, bolstering the government’s goal of positioning India as a dependable long-term defense supplier.
Defense exports were ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26, up 62.66 percent from the previous year. The Defense Public Sector Undertakings provided ₹21,071 crore, while the private sector contributed ₹17,353 crore. India now sells defense equipment to over 80 nations, with a target of ₹50,000 crore by 2029-30.
The approach acknowledges that successful exports foster long-term ties because military platforms require decades of maintenance support, spare parts, upgrades, and crew training. This ongoing interaction enhances the ties between Indian industries, the armed forces, and partner countries.
RAKSHA also promotes more industrial cooperation with sophisticated economies. This was evident in conversations between Rajnath Singh and Belgium’s Defense and Trade Minister, Theo Francken, during which both sides discussed defense ties and industrial cooperation. The engagement underlined India’s interest in manufacturing alliances and technological collaboration, as well as export growth.
Maritime security remains a key component of the strategy. Building on the SAGAR vision of 2015 and the MAHASAGAR project announced in 2025, India intends to strengthen its role as a security provider and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region. The significance of this goal has grown as Chinese naval involvement has intensified, notably the establishment of a military station in Djibouti in 2017 and the growing presence of Chinese research and survey vessels in regional waterways.
India hopes to build a larger network of trustworthy partners to supplement its naval deployments and strengthen regional stability through increased maritime cooperation, training initiatives, and support for littoral and island nations.
Although the document does not specifically mention the Global South, its emphasis on capacity building, affordable defense equipment, and marine aid is especially pertinent for countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean. Recent defense engagements, such as the BrahMos missile pact with the Philippines and Armenia’s defense procurement, demonstrate India’s growing global reach.
The roadmap also has substantial hurdles. Financing remains a crucial concern, as competitors like as China, Turkey, and South Korea routinely provide lucrative export credit arrangements in addition to defense sales. India must also demonstrate continuous delivery performance and long-term support capabilities if it is to increase its worldwide market share.South Asians and Diaspora
RAKSHA provides a complete framework for India’s defense diplomacy. Its effectiveness will be determined by India’s ability to translate its burgeoning defense manufacturing capabilities into long-term international alliances over the next decade.
