IndiaPosted at: Nov 4 2026 7:46PM


Supply chain diversification, regional cooperation key to maritime resilience: Def Min

New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Wednesday, called for diversifying supply chains, strengthening maritime infrastructure and deepening regional cooperation to make the Indo-Pacific maritime environment more secure and resilient amid growing geopolitical tensions, disruptions to global trade and emerging security threats.
Addressing the commemorative session of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2026, the Indian Navy’s annual apex-level international strategic conference in New Delhi, Singh said the growing vulnerabilities of an interconnected world could only be addressed through resilience, collective efforts and stronger partnerships among regional nations.
He cautioned that certain countries and actors were seeking to exploit the strategic importance of oceans for narrow unilateral gains, posing challenges to freedom of navigation and the broader international order.
“The global maritime security environment is strained by deliberate trade disruptions. We see blatant challenges to the freedom of navigation and the weaponisation of narrow maritime passages. This growing instability in the maritime domain casts a long shadow over the broader international order,” he said.
Emphasising that globalisation could not be abandoned every time a disruption occurred, Singh said maritime spaces that had facilitated human progress must not be closed. Instead, countries should work towards making their inter-dependence more secure through diversified supply chains, reliable maritime infrastructure, enhanced maritime awareness and the ability to anticipate, withstand and recover from disruptions.
Describing oceans as bridges rather than barriers between nations and civilisations, he highlighted their role in sustaining livelihoods and facilitating the exchange of goods, knowledge and culture. He said the Indo-Pacific's shared maritime interests demanded a collective approach, as no single country could address the region's emerging challenges independently.
Underlining the changing nature of maritime security, the Defence Minister said threats were no longer confined to conventional military activities but also included piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, cyber-attacks and natural disasters.
He stressed that emerging technologies must be leveraged to address these challenges, pointing to the growing role of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, advanced sensors, biotechnology and data analytics in transforming maritime surveillance, research and operations.
“Artificial intelligence is changing the way data is processed, while autonomous systems are expanding the possibilities of surveillance and operations. New sensors are improving our ability to observe the oceans. Advances in materials, biotechnology and data analytics are opening new avenues for research and application,” he said.
However, he cautioned against treating technology as an end in itself, stressing that its application must address real-world challenges and benefit all countries.
“Technology must not become another source of inequality among nations. If technological progress benefits only a limited number of countries, we will not achieve the collective resilience that our region requires,” Singh said.
Pointing to the varying levels of technological and economic capabilities among Indo-Pacific countries, he called for greater cooperation in research, education, innovation and capacity building. He said scientific capabilities developed by one country could contribute to the security and prosperity of the entire region, particularly benefiting smaller maritime nations and developing countries.
“The most useful technology is not necessarily the most expensive or sophisticated; it is the one that solves a real problem,” he observed.
Singh also highlighted the maritime sector's importance in India's journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, saying the government was working to develop a comprehensive maritime ecosystem through investments in port infrastructure, connectivity, coastal economic activities and strengthening the maritime industrial base.
On environmental sustainability, the Defence Minister said economic development and ecological responsibility must advance together, cautioning that oceans could not be treated as an unlimited source of resources.
“Oceans cannot be treated as an unlimited source of resources. National prosperity and ecological responsibility are not competing objectives. They must reinforce each other,” he said, advocating the protection of marine ecosystems, responsible utilisation of ocean resources and placing coastal communities at the centre of development initiatives.
Reaffirming India's commitment to an open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order, Singh highlighted the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which recognises the interconnected nature of security and prosperity among nations.
He also underlined the significance of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, describing it as a framework for advancing maritime cooperation across seven interconnected areas.
Calling for translating the deliberations at IPRD into tangible outcomes, Singh urged participating countries to strengthen scientific networks, promote joint research, facilitate exchanges between universities and maritime institutions and develop affordable technological solutions to common challenges.
“The future of the Indo-Pacific will not be shaped by technology alone. It will be shaped by the wisdom with which we use that technology, the partnerships we build and the confidence we create among nations,” he said, reiterating India's readiness to contribute to collective efforts.
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Tags: #Supply chain diversification# regional cooperation key to maritime resilience: Def Min
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