Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India’s aim is to walk hand in hand together at a time some countries are at war with each other.  He also asked friendly nations to elevate their partnership and collaboration to new heights in view of the evolving global challenges.

“Today, there is a race in the world to get ahead of each other, wars are going on between countries at different places. In this changing situation, India’s goal is that we hold each other’s hands and walk together,” he said while speaking at ‘Tarang Shakti’ -- the largest multilateral air exercise in India hosted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the air base here.

“Seeing the way the world is changing and new challenges are emerging, we need to take our partnership and collaboration to new heights,” the defence minister said.

His remarks come in the backdrop of calls for India’s potential role in pushing peace talks between Russia and Ukraine as New Delhi has good relations with both the nations.

The minister said India is collaborating with friendly nations on a range of advanced and high-tech projects. While exercises like Tarang Shakti have significant tactical value, they also serve as a platform to foster greater mutual cooperation, coordination, and trust among participating countries, he noted.

“Such initiatives build confidence among our partners, reinforcing our collective commitment to stand united when needed. Through Tarang Shakti, we have further solidified our defence relationships with partner nations,” he said.

Rajnath Singh urged the foreign dignitaries present on the occasion to thoroughly explore and study India’s aerospace sector.

“This first hand experience will provide insight into the rapid advancements and promising capabilities of India’s defence manufacturing industry. It is an excellent opportunity to discuss how we can advance our collaboration in defence manufacturing,” he said.

The minister said India is enthusiastic about working together and aims for partnership to extend beyond political and technical realms.

“We want our cooperation to be not limited to just political or technical synergy but to transform into a heart-to-heart synergy,” he said.

The defence minister said today, India stands not only as the fastest growing economy globally but also is home to one of the world’s most formidable armed forces.