Supply Chain Diversification, Regional Cooperation Key to Maritime Resilience:Rajnath Singh
Calls for stronger maritime infrastructure, technological cooperation and a secure, inclusive Indo-Pacific maritime order
05/11/2026
New Delhi, November 04 (KIP)- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday called for making interdependence among regional partners more secure and resilient through diversification of supply chains, reliable maritime infrastructure, enhanced maritime awareness and greater cooperation amid growing strains in the global maritime security environment.
Addressing the commemorative session of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2026, the Indian Navy’s annual apex-level international strategic conference being held in New Delhi, Singh emphasised that the vulnerabilities of an interconnected world could only be addressed through resilience, collective efforts and stronger partnerships among regional nations.
Describing oceans as bridges rather than barriers among nations and civilisations, the Defence Minister highlighted their role in sustaining livelihoods and facilitating the exchange of goods, knowledge and culture. He cautioned that certain actors and nations seek to exploit the strategic importance of oceans for narrow unilateral gains.
“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.
Rajnath Singh asserted that the answer to the vulnerabilities of an interconnected world lies in building resilience. He stressed that globalisation cannot be abandoned in response to every disruption, nor should maritime spaces that have enabled human progress be closed. Instead, the objective must be to make interdependence more secure.
Highlighting the evolving nature of maritime security, the Defence Minister said challenges could arise not only from conventional military activities but also from non-traditional threats such as piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, cyberattacks and natural disasters.
He underscored the need for maritime security to evolve in response to emerging threats and technological developments.
“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. These developments have enormous implications for maritime security and economic activity. But technology, by itself, is not the answer. The more important question is how we use technology to address real challenges,” he said.
Singh also underlined that technology must not become another source of inequality among nations, noting that Indo-Pacific countries have different levels of technological and economic capabilities.
“If technological progress benefits only a limited number of countries, we will not achieve the collective resilience that our region requires,” he said.
The Defence Minister called for promoting cooperation in research, education, innovation and capacity building, stating that stronger scientific capabilities in one country could contribute to the security and prosperity of the entire region. He particularly emphasised the importance of affordable and practical technological solutions for smaller maritime nations and developing countries.
Emphasising India's journey towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, Singh said the maritime domain would play a crucial role in the country's national transformation.
He highlighted the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government's efforts to develop a comprehensive maritime ecosystem through investments in port infrastructure and connectivity, port-led development under Sagarmala, promotion of coastal economic activities and strengthening of the maritime industrial base.
He described the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 as the national blueprint for this transformation, with an emphasis on technology, innovation, research, education and skills.
The Defence Minister also stressed that economic development and environmental responsibility must progress together, stating that oceans cannot be treated as an unlimited source of resources.
He advocated the protection of marine ecosystems, responsible utilisation of ocean resources and placing the interests of coastal communities at the centre of development efforts.
“National prosperity and ecological responsibility are not competing objectives. They must reinforce each other,” he said.
Reaffirming India's commitment to an open, inclusive and rule-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 described the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, as a practical framework for advancing maritime cooperation across seven interconnected areas.
Emphasising the need to translate regional cooperation into tangible outcomes, the Defence Minister urged participants to move beyond identifying challenges and focus on practical action.
He called for stronger scientific networks, joint research, exchanges between universities and maritime institutions, and the development of 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,” Singh said, reiterating India's readiness to contribute to this collective endeavour.
He concluded with a call to move “from shared challenges to shared understanding. From shared understanding to shared knowledge. And from shared knowledge to shared resilience and shared prosperity.”
Naval Chief stresses scientific cooperation
In his address, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), highlighted the interconnected nature of oceans and the uneven distribution of scientific knowledge, research infrastructure and technological capabilities across the Indo-Pacific.
He emphasised that maritime cooperation must extend beyond equipment acquisition to building sustainable capabilities, enabling partner nations to operate, maintain, adapt and upgrade technologies.
Underscoring the need for a broader and more integrated approach to maritime challenges, the CNS called for greater collective investment in ocean science and research, enhanced sharing of scientific data and technology, and collaborative research initiatives, including joint scientific expeditions.
He also highlighted the importance of strengthening existing regional institutions and mechanisms through trust, transparency and inclusive ocean governance.
Admiral Swaminathan observed that IPRD 2026 provides an important platform for translating shared maritime interests into practical outcomes and generating concrete, forward-looking recommendations to strengthen scientific, technological and academic cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
Among the dignitaries present were Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, and former Chief of the Naval Staff and Chairman, National Maritime Foundation (NMF), Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi (Retd).
Three-day dialogue focuses on maritime resilience
The three-day IPRD 2026, being conducted by the Indian Navy in association with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), commenced on November 3, 2026.
The second day of the dialogue focused on two closely connected issues of regional maritime resilience: developing a better shared understanding of activities at sea and strengthening scientific capacity to anticipate and respond to environmental change.
The day also witnessed a ministerial session featuring a special address by Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh. He also released an NMF publication titled Alternative Hull Forms for the Future Indian Navy.
Adding a naval perspective to the overarching theme of IPRD 2026, an interactive session titled ‘Perspectives from the Flag Bridge’ brought together former Indian Navy chiefs Admiral R.K. Dhowan, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Admiral Karambir Singh and Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, along with former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Admiral Jayantha Perera.
The discussion, hosted by Director General, NMF, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, offered insights into the relationship between maritime strategy, technological change and regional cooperation, with particular reference to naval cooperation under the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, currently chaired by the Indian Navy.
Another session, moderated by Commodore Abhinav Barve of the Indian Navy, focused on ‘Oceanographic Science and Climate Resilience’.
The speakers deliberated on the scientific foundations of regional preparedness, with special emphasis on cooperative maritime networks for climate resilience in Indian Ocean island states such as Mauritius and Seychelles.
The discussions also addressed translating ocean science into policy and collaborative sharing of ocean data, including cooperation involving research vessels, observation networks, forecasting capabilities and appropriate data-sharing arrangements.
The two ministerial sessions on the second day of IPRD 2026 provided strategic guidance to the conference and offered a holistic perspective on India's collaborative approach to addressing maritime security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.