India Stands for Free & Rules-based Indo-Pacific, says Rajnath Singh

· “Dialogue only Civilised Mechanism for Resolving Disputes & Creating Global Order”

· India does not believe in a World Order where few are considered Superior to others, Multi-aligned Policy only way to shared Prosperity

· He cited the Prime Minister’s resolute message during the G-20 summit in Bali recently that “the era of war is over”.

· ‘Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative’ launched during the East Asia Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2019.

· India is well positioned to be in the vanguard of the several providers of net security within the Indo-Pacific and is increasingly being viewed as the preferred security-partner, especially in the western segment of the region, namely the Indian Ocean.

India stands for a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific as it is important for the economic development of not only the region but also the wider global community. This was stated by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh during his keynote address at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) in New Delhi on November 25, 2022. Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s vision of the Indo-Pacific by quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement during Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June 2018.

Rajnath Singh emphasised that dialogue is the only civilised mechanism for resolving disputes & disagreements and creating regional or global order. He cited the Prime Minister’s resolute message during the G-20 summit in Bali recently that “the era of war is over”. It was echoed by the world leaders, with the G-20 communique mentioning that ‘now is not the time for war’. “In the times when humanity is facing problems like climate change, Covid-19 pandemic & widespread deprivation, it is essential that we all work together to surmount these mammoth challenges, without being distracted by the destructive seduction of wars and conflicts,” he said.

Rajnath Singh reiterated that it has always been India’s endeavour to work with its partners in constructive engagements in the Indo-Pacific region. He shed light on the ‘Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative’ launched during the East Asia Summit held in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2019. He said, regional cooperation and participation are important pillars of this initiative, which outlines a regional cooperative structure, focusing on the vision of SAGAR i.e., Security and Growth for All in the Region.

In this special session on the culminating day of the three-day IPRD, which was aptly termed as the ‘Margdarshan’ session, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar spoke about the threats and challenges to India’s holistic maritime security and reaffirmed Indian Navy’s committed resolve in preserving the nation’s maritime interests. He added that India is well positioned to be in the vanguard of the several providers of net security within the Indo-Pacific and is increasingly being viewed as the preferred security-partner, especially in the western segment of the region, namely the Indian Ocean. The Admiral reiterated the Navy’s commitment towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbharta’ in the defence sector.

On the occasion, the Raksha Mantri also released a book, published by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF) titled ‘Coastal Security Dimensions of Maritime Security’.

The IPRD is an annual apex-level international outreach of the Indian Navy that seeks to foster exchange of ideas and promote deliberations on maritime issues relevant to the Indo-Pacific which, for India, stretches over a vast, predominantly maritime expanse from the eastern shore of Africa to the western shore of the Americas.

The event was organised by NMF, New Delhi as the Indian Navy’s knowledge partner. The IPRD witnessed active participation from senior officials from the Indian Armed Forces, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, senior representatives from Indian industry, diplomatic representatives from missions in India, academia, eminent scholars and experts from abroad. In addition, about 2,000 uniformed personnel and veterans, eminent citizens and students from renowned universities in Delhi-NCR attended the event over the three days.