Be Ready For Unpredictable Future Conflict, Says Rajnath Singh

Amidst the global war-like crisis, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday urged the nation, ‘to be ready’ for the unpredictable future conflict.

The minister was addressing a Naval Commanders’ meeting onboarding the country’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant off Goa.

Singh further highlighted the country’s future capable development to deal with emerging maritime security challenges and stressed the Indian Navy is standing firm in protecting national interests, strengthening India’s position as a ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region.

The minister also witnessed the operational demonstrations at sea, highlighting the Navy’s capability to undertake multi-dimensional missions toward safeguarding the maritime interests of the country.

He said the world is constantly evolving and re-strategizing the future situation is difficult to determine and so constant vigil on the northern and western borders along with the entire coastline must be maintained.

Secured borders are the first priority in ensuring social and economic progress, Singh added.

Asserting PM Modi’s ‘Amrit Kaal’ renewed thrust and zeal will help in achieving the objective, the minister emphasised economic prosperity and security goes hand-in-hand and underscored the defence sector’s emergence as a major demand creator, boosting the country’s economy and ensuring development.

He said in the coming 5 to 10 years, the defence sector will play a major role in economic development bringing in orders of almost 100 billion USD. Today this sector is on the runway, the take is near, Rajnath added.

“A huge country like India needs to be completely self-reliant and security independent”, he said.

He then marked the significance of the navy for being at the forefront of indigenisation and innovation through the induction of ships and submarines and the development of niche technologies, in consonance with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision.

Singh also reviewed the operational capabilities of the Indian Navy during the Naval Commanders’ Conference.