During the India-Africa Defence Dialogue in Gandhinagar, Singh spoke to delegates from 43 different African nations. The event was planned in conjunction with DefExpo 2022.
He continued that India is ready to collaborate with African nations in areas of shared interest. India will continue to be led by its long-standing compassion toward African people in its defence and security cooperation with that continent.
India rejects the idea of a hierarchical world order in which a select few nations are viewed as superior to all others. According to him, India’s foreign relations are governed by the fundamental principles of human equality and dignity, which are a part of our long-standing culture.
Forging relationships “comes easily to India, as we strive towards mutual economic growth,” he added. “We do not believe in making or becoming a client or satellite state, and so, when we collaborate with any nation, it is on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.”
In this regard, it is necessary to make the UN Security Council more representative in order to give it greater legitimacy, thereby sustaining a global order in which the principles of international peace, security, and order are respected universally, he continued. “I am sure that you also share our belief that the global world order deserves to be further democratised. The world’s multilateral forums should be reflective of the change in global realities,” he said.
According to him, India and African nations play a significant role in maintaining a secure marine environment, particularly in the Indian Ocean region.
We collaborate in several regional structures, he added, and these efforts “promote inclusive and constructive engagement in addressing common issues to peace and prosperity.”
He continued by saying that India had made significant contributions throughout the years to UN peacekeeping efforts in Africa. It is among the top three nations in terms of soldier contributions to UN peacekeeping and has taken part in the majority of UN peacekeeping missions in the area. At its military academies, India has taught officers from various African nations.
“We have extended counter-insurgency and training to many African partners, and we have organised multilateral field training exercises, like the AFINDEX-19, which is scheduled to be conducted in the first quarter of the following year,” he said. “We have assisted in setting up defence training institutions in some African countries.
India continues to stand with African nations in their pursuit of development, expansion, and peace. The 10 guiding principles outlined by Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his 2018 speech to the Ugandan parliament serve as the foundation of India’s cooperation with Africa. The first priority for India would be Africa, according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.
