He said the full potential of a nation’s progress can be realised only when its security is ensured. (Express Photo) The cooperation between India and African countries in maritime security and countering terrorism and extremism will be essential for regional peace and prosperity, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday in Pune.
The Defence Minister also invited African nations to “explore Indian defence equipment and technologies”.
Rajnath Singh was addressing the delegates at the strategically significant India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave.
It focusses on strengthening defence ties and building an institutionalised framework for better military-to-military cooperation.
The conclave was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Manoj Pande and leaders and representatives of 31 African nations, along with other civil and defence dignitaries.
The conclave was held on the sidelines of the second edition of the Africa-India Field Training Exercise — AFINDEX- 2023 — between India and 23 African nations.
The training was underway for the last 10 days at the Foreign Training Node in Aundh. The exercise is set to conclude on Wednesday.
Speaking at the conclave, the Defence Minister said, “The second edition of AFINDEX is reflective of our continued focus on African nations to develop capacity in line with the shared vision and enhance mutual capabilities. I firmly believe that maritime neighbours linked by the mighty Indian Ocean, our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography and in countering terrorism and extremism will be essential for regional peace and prosperity.”
“When we talk about a country’s development and growth, security is often not given the importance it deserves and is sometimes considered antithetical to the pursuit of development,” he added.
“It is incoherent and historically inaccurate to consider security and development as the antithesis of one another. I believe that the full potential of society’s development can be realised only when its security is ensured…We believe that the preservation of individual human rights such as the right to life and personal liberty, the right to employment, and the right to livelihood, are dependent on a strong and effective state apparatus. Development can only take place in a safe and secure environment.”
Rajnath Singh further said, “Capacity building in terms of defence equipment and platforms is another critical aspect of our defence cooperation with our African partners. As India continues to enhance its defence manufacturing capabilities, I invite African countries to explore Indian defence equipment and technologies. I would like to bring to your notice that India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years. Our defence sector can work with you to fulfill your defence requirements. With an aim to empower our African friends to indigenously meet their defence requirements, we are also committed to sharing our expertise and knowledge in defence manufacturing, research and development.”
Earlier, in his keynote address, Army Chief General Manoj Pande said, “We face common threats of terrorism and violent extremism that have the potential to adversely affect our development goals. Strengthening our cooperation and mutual capabilities in combating terrorism and extremism was one of the 10 guiding principles of cooperation with Africa announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.”