KEY SPEECHES

It is a privilege to address this National Seminar on Defence Acquisition considering how critical the modernisation programme is to the armed forces. The present defence procurement and management structures in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) were set up in 2001 in terms of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GOM) on reforming the… Continue reading Special Address at National Seminar on Defence Acquisition

“At the very outset, I must admit that today’s Seminar could not have come in more relevant circumstances. As the security scenario is undergoing unprecedented changes, the defence industry has come to occupy the centrestage like never before – not only in our country, but the world over. Our nation has a vast defence industrial… Continue reading Keynote Address at the National Seminar on Defence Industry

(as marked for delivery) It gives me great pleasure to address the Second Annual Conference “Changing Political Context in India’s Neighbourhood: Prospects of Regional Security and Cooperation”. I commend the organizers for making the Conference an annual event. I had addressed the Conference last year and saw firsthand the value it offers to academics, diplomats… Continue reading Special Address at International Seminar on Changing Political Context in South Asia and Prospects of Security and Regional Cooperation

I feel privileged to be here amidst such a distinguished audience. Over the years, the IDSA has provided the impulse for such gatherings of scholars and analysts. The end products add to the compendium of knowledge. The attention of this conference, I understand, would be on dimensions of change in South Asia and its possible… Continue reading Keynote Address at International Seminar on Changing Political Context in South Asia and Prospects of Security and Regional Cooperation

“I am really pleased to be present at this National Seminar on Defence Offsets being organised by the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). Offsets are an important component of the Defence Procurement Procedure. I hope that the Seminar’s deliberations will result in valuable suggestions from all the key stakeholders to strengthen this vital… Continue reading Keynote Address at National Seminar on Defence Offsets

1. Mr Narendra Sisodia (DG, IDSA); senior officers from the Armed Forces (serving and retired); distinguished scholars from academia and the strategic community; members of the foreign service attaché corps; invitees from the media; ladies and gentlemen…Good Morning. 2. I am thankful to Mr Sisodia for inviting me to speak at this gathering as it… Continue reading IDSA’s National Security Lecture Series

INTRODUCTION 1. It is indeed a great pleasure for me to address such an august gathering of security experts and to share thoughts and perception on the ‘Changing Global Security Environment with Specific Reference to Our Region and its Impact on the Indian Army’. 2. Let me begin by flagging the changing geo strategic environment.… Continue reading IDSA’s National Security Lecture Series

Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a matter of great privilege to be here before this august gathering today to share my thoughts on an issue of significant global importance. India's engagement with Africa is historical and we have civilisational links. We were at forefront of liberation struggles in Africa even while we struggled for our… Continue reading Valedictory Address at International Conference on Africa and Energy Security: Global Issues, Local Responses

Ladies & Gentlemen, Thank you for inviting me to address this conference on “Africa and Energy Security”. To begin with, I would like to congratulate IDSA and PRIO for taking this initiative. The issue of energy security and, of late, food security, have come to the fore of the international agenda. They have also inextricably… Continue reading Keynote Address at International Conference on Africa and Energy Security: Global Issues, Local Responses

INTRODUCTION 1. I am indeed privileged to address this gathering and share my perspectives on ‘IAF in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities’. I propose to begin with a recap of the environment and then go on to discuss threat perceptions, nature of conflicts, role of aerospace power, the IAF, its modernisation, challenges and future… Continue reading IDSA’s National Security Lecture Series

There is a crucial link between National Governance and Internal Security. If Internal Security is not maintained Governance cannot be delivered and there would be grave threats to the very unity and integrity of the country. Likewise, Internal Security cannot be safeguarded if Governance is delivered by an inefficient and corrupt administration. It is perhaps… Continue reading National Governance and Internal Security

I firmly believe that space faring nations have the responsibility to put their efforts together to launch time bound financially shared programmes to take up societal missions in a large scale, pooling their capabilities in launch vehicles, spacecraft and applications. Such major cooperation itself will act a great measure of space security, in addition to… Continue reading Inaugural Address at International Conference on Space Security

The Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari, delivered the Keynote Address on Emerging Foreign Policy and Security Challenges for India on the occasion of the IDSA's 42nd Foundation Day, held on 10 November 2007. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, and President, IDSA, presided over the function. Shri A.K. Antony,… Continue reading Keynote Address at the 42nd Foundation Day Function

Thank you for inviting me to the Council on Foreign Relations. I thought I might share some thoughts with you on India 's foreign policy and the future of India-US relations. Yogi Berra is sometimes credited with having said that it is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future! I am, nevertheless, sufficiently confident… Continue reading India’s Foreign Policy and the Future of India-US Relations

Thank you for inviting me to the Council on Foreign Relations. I thought I might share some thoughts with you on India 's foreign policy and the future of India-US relations. Yogi Berra is sometimes credited with having said that it is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future! I am, nevertheless, sufficiently confident… Continue reading India’s Foreign Policy and the Future of India-US Relations

Why is a NATO official visiting India today? The answer is simple. It is because we in NATO believe that new security challenges demand new approaches. And my visit here is a demonstration of that strong interest on the part of NATO to explore with India, issues of global importance. Issues which may be happening… Continue reading NATO’s Changing Role in the Post-Cold War Period

Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen, Let me first thank PRIO and IDSA for hosting this international seminar on the geopolitics of energy security. It is a telling sign of expanding bilateral relations that two prestigious organizations – one Norwegian and one Indian – have come together to set the agenda for on one of the key… Continue reading Opening Address by the Norwegian Foreign Minister at the IDSA-PRIO Seminar On Energy Security

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank the government of Singapore for the warm hospitability extended to us and the organisers for making excellent arrangements for the Dialogue. Though I had the intention of joining the Dialogue on the previous two occasions, but because of some domestic reasons I could not do so. I am… Continue reading Defence Minister’s Address at the 5th IISS Asia Security Summit

I am truly delighted to be here in your midst to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Institute of Defense Studies and Analysis. I am particularly happy that you have chosen on this auspicious occasion to honour your former Director, Shri K. Subrahmanyam, for helping to lay a strong foundation for this institution in its… Continue reading IDSA Foundation Day Lecture 2005

I welcome this opportunity to present to such a distinguished audience some views on issues relating to nuclear non-proliferation and international security. At the outset, I would like to thank the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses for inviting me to deliver this address. The Institute has a well deserved reputation as our premier strategic… Continue reading Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security

Director IDSA, Ladies and Gentlemen, I feel privileged to be here this morning at the 40th Anniversary Commemorative Seminar of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. The IDSA is today among the foremost think-tanks on defence, security and foreign policy related issues in the country. Over the past four decades, we have seen this… Continue reading Inaugural Address at the IDSA Fortieth Anniversary Commemorative Seminar – Emerging India: Security And Foreign Policy Perspectives

It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate the seminar on “Emerging Nuclear Proliferation Challenges” jointly organised by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis and Pugwash India Conference. The instances of onward proliferation which have come to light in the last two years and the growth and spread of international terrorism lend a sense of… Continue reading India and the NPT

It is said that the logic of geography is unrelenting and proximity is the most difficult and testing among diplomatic challenges a country faces. Frontiers with neighbours are where domestic concerns intersect with external relationships. This is where domestic and foreign policies become inextricable and demand sensitive handling. It should come as no surprise therefore,… Continue reading India and Its Neighbours

Honourable Raksha Mantriji and friends, It is indeed my privilege to be here this morning at the annual gathering of IDSA and an honor for me to share some of my thoughts with you. IDSA is one of our prestigious institutions that had seen great minds like Shri K.Subramanyam and Air Cmde Jasjit Singh who… Continue reading IDSA’s 39th Foundation Day Lecture – Challenges to National Security Over the Next Decade: A Perspective