New Delhi, Oct 30 Terrorism still threatens societies, and “some states” still treat it as an “instrument of state policy”, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Friday.
The senior official was addressing an event titled ‘VISV (Vision, Innovation, Synergy, Values) 2026’ at the Manekshaw Centre here, which was hosted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), a think tank.
“Conflicts are raging in Europe and West Asia. Supply chains have been weaponised, critical technologies have become instruments of leverage, and the expansion of military competition into space and the deep seas are outpacing not just the existing international law and policy frameworks, but also diplomacy itself,” Misri said.
He underlined that terrorism still threatens societies, and “some states still treat it as an instrument of state policy”, without taking any names.
The global commons, from the seas to cyberspace to outer space, are under growing stress, and resource scarcity is being driven to crisis point by climate instability, Misri said.
These modern vulnerabilities are further aggravated by the rise of “sophisticated disinformation campaigns, energised by the anonymity of cyberspace and the disruptive power of artificial intelligence”, he cautioned.
“In such a world, no nation can rely on geography or alliances alone. We must build resilience and partnerships… That is how India approaches,” the foreign secretary said.
Later, the defence ministry said in a statement that Misri underlined the changing nature of defence diplomacy in an evolving geopolitical and technological environment, and emphasised strategic autonomy, multi-alignment, trust and cooperation in the emerging technology domains.
The event, themed ‘Showcasing Defence Capabilities, Strengthening Global Partnerships’, also featured a seminar on ‘DRDO Defence Solutions for Partner Nations: From Technology to Strategic Partnerships’.
Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth highlighted the role of self-reliance in the defence ecosystem for building a Viksit Bharat.
Seth said the four pillars of VISV – Vision, Innovation, Synergy and Values – are akin to the guiding principles for strengthening India’s defence capabilities and expanding international cooperation.
‘Vision’ provides direction for anticipating future defence requirements; ‘Innovation’ transforms research into effective technologies and solutions; ‘Synergy’ brings together the armed forces, research institutions, industry and international partners; and ‘Values’ anchor cooperation in trust, mutual respect and responsibility, he said.
Seth highlighted the role of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in strengthening indigenous research, design, development and manufacturing capabilities, noting that technological self-reliance would enable India to contribute more meaningfully to international partnerships.
He also released a foreign-language compendium of DRDO products in Arabic, Spanish and French, intended to facilitate greater awareness of India’s defence solutions among international partners and support engagement with partner nations.
Defence Secretary and DRDO Chairman Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted the importance of integrating technological capability, industrial capacity and institutional partnerships to strengthen India’s defence preparedness and global engagement.
(PTI News)
