India Must Balance Hard Power with Soft Diplomacy: Defence Secretary

Fast Summary

• Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh emphasized the importance of projecting India’s hard power alongside its soft power amid global trends of competitive populism and economic protectionism.
• Speaking at the southern command Defence Tech 2025 seminar (STRIDE 2025), Singh noted that globalization and free trade have been disrupted by geopolitical factors such as conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, and also rising nationalism.
• He highlighted how these trends are contributing to economic fragmentation, a decline in multilateral institutions, and a need for strategic deal-making supported by hard power.
• Singh called for collaboration between academia, research institutions like DRDO, and private as well as public sectors to enhance the capabilities of India’s armed forces.

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Indian Opinion Analysis

Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s remarks spotlight an important strategic pivot for India amid shifting geopolitical realities. The decline of globalization coupled with rising nationalism globally marks a critical juncture where nations must reassess their foreign policy tools. For India, balancing hard power with soft power can ensure that it remains resilient in an increasingly fragmented world order.

His emphasis on collaboration among key stakeholders-academia,public-private sectors,and research institutions like DRDO-is important given India’s push toward self-reliance in defense technology. This integrated approach coudl not only strengthen military preparedness but also boost indigenous innovation capabilities. Though, transforming this vision into actionable outcomes will demand robust coordination across these domains.