India Emerges as Reliable Partner in Indo-Pacific and Global South: Defence Minister

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India's steady rise as a global economic power, coupled with its commitment to responsible foreign policy, has earned the country a reputation as a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific and the Global South. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made the statement at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, emphasizing India's ability to contribute to global stability and prosperity. The country's stability, Singh said, benefits the global economy, while its digital public infrastructure serves as a model for inclusive, transparent, and secure governance. India's approach to emerging technologies, such as AI and cyber, sets global standards, and its commitment to peace, climate responsibility, and humanitarian values adds moral weight to international cooperation. Singh also launched Project Ekam, a strategic initiative to develop indigenous artificial intelligence solutions for the military. The project aims to provide complete control over data security and tailored solutions for the military. India's geopolitical landscape is marked by uncertainties and challenges, including terrorism, cross-border support to extremist elements, and attempts to alter the status quo. Singh emphasized the need for constant vigilance and clarity of purpose, and the importance of reforms in strengthening institutions, enhancing the agility of the armed forces, and giving the nation the confidence to shape its own destiny. The defence minister also highlighted the government's efforts to modernize the armed forces through new platforms, technologies, and structures, and to build a defence industrial ecosystem that encourages innovation and reduces external dependencies. Through Atmanirbharta, India is investing in start-ups, deep-tech capabilities, and R&D to shape the battlefields of the future. Singh praised the armed forces as the strongest pillar of the nation's resilience, and emphasized their capability, readiness, restraint, and firmness as a driving force in dealing with neighbourhood challenges and contributing to regional stability. Reforms and modernization in the armed forces, Singh said, are not just administrative tasks but investments in India's long-term future, and are crucial in shaping the country's destiny.