Defence Cooperation by India

Defence cooperation is an ideal tool to advance the national foreign policy objectives by building bridges of friendship, preventing conflicts, building mutual trust and capacities on a global basis. The process signals the political commitment to develop cooperative relations and dispel mistrust and misperception on issues of common military interest. The evolving geostrategic realities necessitates that policy guidelines be formulated for integrated inter-ministerial planning on issues concerning the external security of the country. As India grows in stature, it needs to utilise defence diplomacy to the fullest extent to enhance its national interest.

• After the Cold War, India’s foreign relations have become multi-directional and diversified. New geo-strategic realities necessitate improvement of relations with the major powers, such as the US, EU, Russia, Japan and China and pursuance of an active ‘Look East’ policy in the extended neighbourhood, especially ASEAN countries.
• Towards usage of a nation’s ‘soft power,’ as part of defence diplomacy, role of international defence cooperation in gainfully supplementing diplomatic initiatives is increasingly being acknowledged the world over.