Distinguished participants,

 A privilege to be amongst you all at this inaugural International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP)- a significant step in fostering international cooperation and understanding in matters of strategic importance. The environment in this field is changing by every minute, challenges of totally different nature on account of technological advancements.

 This will give you an opportunity. If we go by the composition, gathering comprising 27 International delegates from 21 Countries and 11 senior Indian Military and Civil Officers. Your presence here is a testament to our shared commitment towards global peace, security, and stability, something that is of critical importance to the humanity and the planet.

 Ideating about peace and harmony is fundamental to saner humanity. Global peace is assurance for sustainable development, the only way to existence. This gathering in land of Mahatma Gandhi, apostle of peace, apostle of non-violence carries great significance.

 You are aware more than I am; Peace is best secured from the position of strength. This accords paramountcy to national security. Geo political configurations and conflagrations have affected a sea change in security outlooks.

 The Commandant hinted briefly at the current scenario and the dangers that are looming large. Something that was beyond imagination few years back. We have no idea what will be in store next moment.

 Multilateral engagements have consequentially emerged as a compulsive facet of national security, given paradigm shift in this domain. Countries could deal with security earlier conventionally and on their own but now there has been paradigm shift on account of variety of reasons, connectivity, disruptive technologies, and conventional warfare has taken back seat.

 IN-STEP affords a valuable platform for cross-pollination of ideas from domain experts with varied backgrounds. An occasion for open and constructive dialogue to update about fast emerging changes and challenges in security related aspects and broaden horizons. This is an opportunity to innovate, challenge assumptions and arrive at holistic solutions.

 In this premise this initiative bears relevance. So does also the venue-India, home to one-sixth of humanity, and most functional and largest democracy with track record of ever standing and yearning for global peace and harmony.

 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on record, that resolute addressing of global conflagrations can be only through dialogue and diplomacy. He asserted to the world India's track record that this nation has never believed in expansion. But we have countries in the world at the moment, who practises expansion as a policy. You will have enough occasions to brainstorm on these stones that are virtually writing on the wall.

 IN-STEP marks a collaborative effort between the National Security Council Secretariat, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of India.

 Let me express my profound gratitude to the National Defence College and the Vivekananda International Foundation- A great think tank of policy which is very forward looking, has great talent in various verticals for their invaluable contributions in curating this program.

 I gather that during this course, you will have the opportunity to engage in a series of discussions, seminars, and interactive sessions covering a diverse array of topics ranging from geopolitics and security challenges to diplomatic negotiations and conflict resolution strategies.

 Resolution deliberations get cutting edge when in frankness there can be deliberation on other point of view. Globally it has been noticed particularly with respect to conflagrations that the world is facing at the moment; there is rigid approach, flexibility is not there.

 In all these fields, which are critical to resolution of disputes which are critical for securing peace, there is need for fresh air, fresh innovation, and fresh strategic evolution. You will have the occasion to share your thoughts on this very important aspect.

 Friends, as we embark on this journey of knowledge exchange and collaboration, it is imperative to reflect on the significance of such initiatives in today's complex geopolitical landscape.

 I think none in this room imagined the state of affairs we are seeing today. We never dreamt of it. We seem to be in a world which has suddenly appeared before us on the radar.

 The world today faces unprecedented challenges, climate change, pandemics, fires, glaciers yielding, and terrorism taking space, cyber threats, cyber crimes and global order disruptions. And more threatening aspect is that these are not sudden or ad hoc.

 They generate on account of our reckless pursuit of garnering power or having a policy of disruption because that is gainful.

 In this process, the evolving information landscape, especially social media, compound these issues by reshaping narratives and interactions. Sinister designs with pernicious motivations necessitate prompt application of disruptive technologies. You certainly need something like machine learning to be employed to neutralise a narrative that may have no factual foundations, but that can generate emotive waves, put people into war mongering, and create a different kind of ecosystem that is threatening to the entire society and the world.

 In an era characterized by rapid technological advancements, evolving geopolitical landscapes, and unprecedented global interconnectivity, the global community is grappling with these myriad complex issues. Some like climate change are existential challenges.

 In this context, collaborative action and collective solutions are of prime importance.

 IN-STEP underscores our shared commitment to multilateralism, cooperation, and dialogue as the cornerstone of effective policymaking and conflict resolution. The need for countries to come together and engage in meaningful dialogue has never been greater. Time is running out, things are getting dangerous day by day.

 There is a proverb, if you are on the wrong track, the longer you take a U turn, more you suffer. It is time for global U turn, U turn for peace, harmony, planet preservation, sustainable development to secure happiness for all. Our great leader Mahatma Gandhi said, the planet has everything for everyone’s need but not for greed. Right now we are being guided by our greed. Reckless exploitation and the exploitation of natural resources is taking place in a manner that there is no issue in my country, it can take place in another country forgetting that we are one unit - Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Family One Future) and therefore it is not a time or occasion to think in isolation. We’ll disrupt supply chains, we’ll dangerously adversely impact populace elsewhere even on the point of food security.

 The participants of this program represent a diverse array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, reflecting the rich tapestry of our global community. It is heartening to see such a wide-ranging representation, indicative of our collective commitment to fostering international cooperation and understanding.

 Allow me to take a moment to appreciate the diversity of the participating countries: Argentina, Armenia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, Indonesia, Iraq, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, UAE, Uganda, Vietnam and Bharat.

 Each of these nations brings with it a unique perspective, culture, and set of challenges, and it is through platforms like IN-STEP that we can forge bonds of friendship and cooperation that transcend borders.

 Every nation aspires for peace, security and development for its people. Peace and security are fundamental to growth, fundamental to development.

 If peace is fragile and the security is vulnerable, the national human resource of a nation finds itself in a very challenging environment. These are not lofty goals, they are essentials. I would say these are minimum essentials on which we promise our prosperity. It is on these foundations that societies are built.

 What we see, the current scenario is worrisomely alarming. The world today is characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity, and in this scenario, achieving these aspirations of peace and harmony have become challenging as never before.

But it requires human genius not to be daunted by the challenges. The human spirit, the essence of human life is survival in most difficult circumstances.

 However, in today's world characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, achieving these aspirations has become challenging as never before. 

 This prevailing environment presents us with challenges that are multifaceted and interconnected, requiring comprehensive and coordinated responses.

 It is therefore critical that we analyse these complexities and develop strategies that can adapt to changing circumstances while remaining true to our core values and civilisational ethos.

 This necessitates a shift from traditional modes of thinking. By pooling our resources, expertise, and experiences, we can leverage collective strengths to address common challenges and seize shared opportunities.

 India, with its rich cultural heritage and civilizational ethos, has long embraced the principle of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" – the belief that the world is one family.

 This guiding philosophy has been witnessed by the global community during India’s year-long Presidency of the G20, which truly established Bharat’s role as voice of the Global South. It was a visionary step by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put global south at the centre stage.

 African Union, was made a member of G20, European Union was already there. I leave a thought with you, look at the composition of European Union countries and look at the composition of African Union countries- you’ll find the difference if you go into the historical perspective.

 The Prime Minister believing in age old ethos of this country- the world is one. This principle underscores India's approach to international relations, emphasizing cooperation, inclusivity, and mutual respect. India recognizes that its prosperity and destiny are intrinsically linked to the well-being of other nations, particularly those in the developing world.

 As such, India remains committed to engaging with like-minded nations to foster peace, stability, and prosperity on a global scale.

 By aligning our interests and values, we can amplify our collective voice on the global stage and shape the course of international affairs in a manner that reflects our shared aspirations.

 By engaging in open and constructive dialogue, we can broaden our perspectives, challenge our assumptions, and ultimately arrive at more holistic and effective solutions to the complex challenges we face.

 The decisions we make today will shape the trajectory of our nations and the world for generations to come.

 By fostering cooperation, understanding, and mutual respect, we can build a more peaceful, prosperous, and secure world for future generations and that is our bounden duty. We have to pass on the world to our next generation as trustees.

 May your time here be enriching, enlightening, and empowering. And may the bonds of friendship and cooperation forged during this program persist long after its conclusion.

 Thank you. Jai Hind!

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