India’s growing influence on the global stage—particularly across the Indo-Pacific and the Global South—is rooted in its economic resilience, technological progress, and principled foreign policy. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscored these themes during his address at the concluding session of the Chanakya Defence Dialogue 2025, where he asserted that India is increasingly seen as “a voice of balance and responsibility” in a rapidly shifting international environment. According to him, nations across key strategic regions now view India as a dependable partner committed to stability, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty.

Singh emphasised that India’s rise is not a solitary journey but one that positively impacts the world. A strong and stable India, he said, reinforces global economic confidence, while its digital public infrastructure offers a template of transparent, secure, and inclusive governance for developing nations seeking scalable technological models. Equally important is India’s approach to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, and space systems—domains where ethical deployment and responsible policymaking have put the country in a leadership position. He added that India’s role in climate responsibility, peace efforts, and humanitarian outreach has enhanced its credibility and moral influence on the global stage.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of Project Ekam, a major strategic initiative designed to strengthen India’s indigenous artificial intelligence capabilities for military applications. Developed under the defence ministry’s supervision, this project aims to ensure full control over data security while creating AI solutions tailored to military language, operational doctrines, and mission-specific datasets. The ministry noted that Project Ekam provides the foundational architecture for deploying advanced open-source and indigenous AI models across state-of-the-art applications, and is poised to be a transformative asset for the armed forces.

Rajnath Singh used the platform to reflect on India’s evolving global posture, noting that the country’s voice carries weight today because of its consistent adherence to sovereignty, rule-based international order, and strategic autonomy. India’s ability to navigate global power shifts with confidence, he said, stems from path-breaking domestic reforms and a foreign policy built on clarity, responsibility, and mutual respect.

He highlighted several emerging challenges that shape India’s defence outlook: terrorism, cross-border support to extremist elements, attempts to alter territorial boundaries, maritime pressures in the Indo-Pacific, and the rapidly growing domain of information warfare. These threats, he said, demand continuous vigilance and strategic clarity. In this context, institutional reforms are no longer a matter of choice but a strategic imperative. Modern militaries, he argued, must be agile, adaptive, and capable of responding to hybrid threats in real time.

The defence minister’s address echoed sentiments expressed a day earlier by President Droupadi Murmu, who praised the Indian Army for modernising its structures, updating doctrines, and building capacities for multi-domain operations. Singh expanded on this, noting that India is reinforcing both its border and maritime infrastructure to support security as well as enhance regional connectivity. Modernisation efforts include the acquisition of new technologies, restructuring of operational commands, and upgrades across platforms and systems to keep pace with evolving challenges.

He stressed that reforms in procurement processes are improving speed, accountability, and transparency—critical factors that ensure the armed forces get what they need without undue delays. This push toward efficiency ties in directly with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) vision, which prioritises domestic manufacturing, innovation, and reduced reliance on external suppliers. Singh noted that India’s defence ecosystem is now fostering vibrant collaboration with start-ups, deep-tech ventures, and research institutions. These partnerships will shape “the battlefields of the future,” enabling the country to remain technologically ahead and strategically prepared.

At the heart of India’s defence strategy, Singh said, are its soldiers. Ensuring the welfare, morale, and operational readiness of military personnel—including veterans and their families—remains central to all policy decisions. He described the armed forces as the strongest pillar of the nation’s resilience. Their discipline, preparedness, and unwavering determination, he said, enable India to confront neighbourhood challenges effectively while maintaining broader regional stability.

Despite India’s commitment to peace and diplomacy, Singh made it clear that the country holds firm when sovereignty and national security are at stake. India’s approach, he said, balances restraint with readiness—engaging in dialogue where possible but remaining uncompromising in the defence of its people and territory. This balanced strategy has strengthened India’s credibility among partner nations who value consistency and reliability in an unpredictable global climate.

He concluded by asserting that ongoing reforms and modernisation efforts within the armed forces are not merely administrative changes but long-term investments in India’s future. These initiatives aim to ensure that India remains strong, secure, and strategically autonomous in the decades ahead. As the global order continues to evolve, India’s commitment to responsible leadership, technological innovation, and national resilience positions it as a trusted and influential partner across the Indo-Pacific, the Global South, and beyond.