Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said at the Indo‑Pacific Regional Dialogue‑2026: diversity and cooperation in the maritime supply chain are essential.

At the Indo‑Pacific Regional Dialogue‑2026 platform, Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh presented his key points, stating that strengthening mutual interdependence in the maritime domain is India's strategic priority amid rising security tensions. He noted that China's expanding naval presence, North Korea's missile tests, and regional disputes in the South China Sea have heightened instability in the region. In such a scenario, India must diversify its maritime supply chains and balance reliance on multiple partners to reduce risk on any single source.

With the major countries attending Dialogue‑2026 — the United States, Japan, Australia, and several ASEAN members of Southeast Asia — India proposed several initiatives to enhance supply‑chain resilience. These initiatives include joint development of ports and logistics hubs, shared use of digital tracking systems, and joint exercises to increase transparency in the supply chain. Minister Singh said, “Maritime security is achievable not only through naval power but also through reliable logistics networks and mutual trust. We must diversify our maritime trade routes, develop alternative ports and waterways, so that the impact of any sudden disruption can be mitigated.”

Along with these statements, India proposed establishing a new ‘Indo‑Pacific Maritime Cooperation Forum’ to strengthen regional cooperation, aimed at regularly conducting supply‑chain risk assessments, emergency response mechanisms, and strategic dialogue. This initiative received a positive