No Permanent Friends or Enemies’: Rajnath Singh Highlights Self-Reliance Amid US Tariff Tensions
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday emphasized India’s push for aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence, stating, “There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests,” at the NDTV Defence Summit 2025. His remarks come amid US tariff tensions and warming India-China relations.
Singh highlighted major strides in indigenisation, including the commissioning of two locally designed Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, INS Himgiri and INS Udaygiri, and announced that the Sudarshan Chakra, India’s homegrown defence system, will soon be operational.
Top 5 takeaways from Rajnath Singh’s address:
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No permanent friends or enemies: India’s foreign and defence policy prioritizes national interests, not permanent alliances or rivalries.
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Global trade tensions: Referring to US tariffs on Indian imports, Singh noted that developed nations are becoming more protectionist, but India will safeguard its people’s interests.
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Aatmanirbharta as necessity: Self-reliance in defence is crucial for economic and strategic security amid shifting geopolitics.
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Sudarshan Chakra & domestic warships: India will manufacture all future warships domestically, with the Sudarshan Chakra system set to debut soon.
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Rise in defence exports: India’s defence exports surged from under ₹700 crore in 2014 to nearly ₹24,000 crore today, marking its transition from importer to emerging exporter.
Singh also praised Operation Sindoor, noting its success showcased the effectiveness of indigenous defence capabilities.
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