New Delhi – Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday reinforced India’s commitment to self-reliance in the defence sector, stressing that “there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.” Speaking at the NDTV Defence Summit 2025, Singh framed India’s defence policy in light of shifting global trade dynamics and regional power equations.
His remarks came as New Delhi navigates tariff disputes with the United States and a recent thaw in ties with China. Singh pointed to the imposition of a 50 per cent levy on Indian imports by US President Donald Trump as an example of growing protectionism among developed nations. He underlined that India would not compromise on its national interests, even while maintaining that “India does not consider anybody its enemy.”
The minister highlighted key milestones in indigenisation, including the commissioning of INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, two Nilgiri-class stealth frigates designed and built in India. “In the spirit of self-reliance, the navy has pledged not to buy warships from other countries but to make them in India,” Singh said. He also announced that the indigenously developed Sudarshan Chakra defence system would soon be operational.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, Singh said the precision strikes demonstrated the growing strength of India’s indigenous defence technologies. He further noted the remarkable rise in defence exports, which have grown from less than ₹700 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹24,000 crore today, marking India’s transition from a major importer to an emerging global exporter.
Singh stressed that in an unpredictable geopolitical environment, self-reliance was no longer optional. “Today’s shifting geopolitics has made it clear that external dependency in defence is no longer viable. Self-reliance is essential for both our economy and our security,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, following a two-day trip to Japan, added context to Singh’s remarks, underlining India’s efforts to balance diplomacy with strategic autonomy.
