Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has unveiled the RAKSHA document, a new strategic blueprint designed to guide India’s defence diplomacy and international security engagement over the next decade.
The document presents an actionable framework for strengthening India’s position in a rapidly changing global environment. It aims to align the country’s national security priorities with greater international cooperation while supporting India’s broader role as a contributor to peace, stability and a rules-based global order.
According to an official statement, the RAKSHA framework is built around four major areas: strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous defence manufacturing and exports, and maritime security.
The initiative is expected to provide a long-term roadmap for expanding India’s defence relationships with countries around the world. As defence diplomacy continues to play an increasingly important role in India’s foreign policy, the new framework seeks to create a more structured approach to international military and security cooperation.
A key focus of the document is strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships. India plans to deepen cooperation with friendly nations and expand engagement on shared security priorities.
The roadmap also places importance on capacity building through greater military collaboration. This includes increasing joint exercises, expanding training opportunities and sharing operational knowledge and best practices with partner countries.
Another major priority is the continued promotion of India’s domestic defence industry. The RAKSHA document supports the expansion of Make in India defence platforms and aims to strengthen the country’s position as a dependable global destination for defence manufacturing.
By encouraging indigenous production and increasing exports, India seeks to build stronger international defence partnerships while reducing dependence on overseas suppliers and expanding the global reach of its domestically produced military equipment.
Maritime security is another important component of the strategy. The document emphasizes India’s intention to further strengthen its role as a Net Security Provider and First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region. This reflects the country’s growing focus on regional security, maritime cooperation and its ability to respond to crises and emerging threats.
The launch of the document signals a more proactive approach to India’s international defence engagement. Rather than limiting cooperation to traditional diplomatic and military relationships, the strategy seeks to connect national security goals with long-term global partnerships and mutual development.
Several senior officials from India’s defence, foreign affairs and national security establishments attended the launch. The gathering included top representatives from the Indian Army, Air Force and Navy, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs and National Security Council Secretariat.
With RAKSHA, India has outlined a long-term vision to expand its defence diplomacy, strengthen international partnerships and increase its influence as a security and defence manufacturing power over the coming decade.
