India’s Defense Minister Urges ‘Moral’ Win-Win Global Order of Shared Security

Nov. 11, 2022 (EIRNS)—Defense Minister of India Rajnath Singh, delivered an extraordinary speech Nov. 10 to India’s National Defense College’s Master of Philosophy program in which senior Indian and foreign officers participate. Singh discusses threats such as terrorism and cyber and information warfare, but the core of his speech was dedicated to answer the question: How do we counter the grave security challenges which face us all? His answer outlines the principles upon which India sees a new global security system must be based:

“Now, the real question is, if there are so grave security challenges evolving before us, how we counter them. The answer, according to me, lies in working towards shared and collective responsibility of the comity of civilized nations. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said that ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ In this era of high connectivity and interdependence, this statement holds more relevance than ever. When peace and security of any region is threatened, the entire world feels its impact in multiple ways....

“If security becomes a truly collective enterprise, then we can think of creating a global order which is beneficial to all of us.... What we now require is to elevate it to a level of shared interests and shared security for all....

“We believe in a multi-aligned policy which is realized through diverse engagements with multiple stakeholders, so that views and concerns of all can be discussed and addressed for a prosperous future of all. This is the only way that can lead to shared responsibility and prosperity.

“I would like to share another related issue in this security paradigm, that is, not to consider national security as a zero-sum game. We should strive to create a win-win situation for all.... Strong and prosperous India would not be built at the cost of others, rather, India is here to help other nations realize their full potential....

“[C]onduct of our strategic policy should be moral. India does not believe in a world order where few are considered superior to others. India’s actions are guided by the very essence of human equality and dignity, which is a part of our ancient ethos and its strong moral foundations, give us our political strength. Even our freedom struggle was based on the bedrock of high moral values. I would like to quote Mahatma Gandhi where he said that ‘If I want freedom for my country, believe me, if I can possibly help it, I do not want that freedom in order that I, belonging to a nation which counts one-fifth of the human race, may exploit any other race upon Earth, or any single individual. If I want that freedom for my country, I would not be deserving of that freedom if I did not cherish and treasure the equal right of every other race, weak or strong, to the same freedom.’ Thus, Realpolitik cannot be the fig leaf for being immoral or amoral. Rather, enlightened self-interest of nations can be promoted within the framework of strategic morality, which is predicated on the understanding and respect for the legitimate strategic imperative of all the civilized nations.”