India backs peace but stands firm on security: Rajnath

India believes in peace and dialogue, but it does not “compromise” when it comes to the sovereignty and security of the nation, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday.

Making this assertion in his address at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, he also said India has become a “voice of balance and responsibility” in the current global environment and that nations in the Indo-Pacific and Global South view New Delhi as a reliable partner.

“India’s economic growth, technological capabilities, and principled foreign policy have made it a voice of balance and responsibility in the changing global environment, with countries across the Indo-Pacific and the Global South viewing us as a reliable partner,” Rajnath Singh said.

He said India is shaping global discussions with a sense of responsibility, strategic autonomy, and confidence rooted in civilisational values.

“India believes in peace and dialogue, but when it comes to the sovereignty and security of the people, we do not compromise,” he said.

India has earned global trust due to path-breaking reforms, and its consistent stand for respect of the sovereignty of nations and rules-based order, he said.

“We are strengthening border and maritime infrastructure to support security and connectivity. We are modernising our forces through new platforms, technologies, and structures,” the minister said.

“We are reforming procurement processes to ensure speed, transparency, and accountability. Through “Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance)”, we are building a defence industrial ecosystem that encourages innovation, supports industry, and reduces external dependencies,” he said.

Rajnath Singh said India is investing in start-ups, “deep-tech” capabilities, and research and development that will shape the battlefields of the future.

He emphasised that the geopolitical uncertainty and challenges such as terrorism, cross-border support to extremist elements, attempts to alter the status quo, maritime pressures, and even information warfare require constant vigilance and clarity of purpose, with reforms becoming a strategic necessity more than a choice.

Reforms strengthen the adaptability of institutions, enhance the agility of the Armed Forces, and give the nation the confidence to shape its own destiny, he said.

Advocating that resilience is as important as capability, the defence minister stated that a resilient India can absorb shocks, adapt quickly, and continue moving forward irrespective of the circumstances.

He described the Armed Forces as the strongest pillar of the nation’s resilience, stressing that their capability, readiness, restraint and firmness is a driving force that allows India to deal with its neighbourhood challenges while contributing to regional stability.