India unveils RAKSHA framework for decade-long defence diplomacy push

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on September 3, 2026, released a comprehensive document titled 'RAKSHA' in New Delhi, setting out India's strategic roadmap for defence diplomacy over the next decade. The framework is designed to align national security objectives with proactive global cooperation, aiming to foster long-term stability and mutual growth.

The blueprint identifies four key pillars for engagement. It seeks to deepen bilateral and multilateral security cooperation through strategic partnerships. Another focus area is capacity building, which includes enhancing joint military exercises, training programmes and the sharing of best practices with friendly nations.

A significant emphasis has been placed on promoting indigenous defence platforms under the Make-in-India initiative, with the goal of establishing the country as a reliable global defence manufacturing hub. The document also underscores the importance of strengthening India's role as a net security provider and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region.

The release describes defence diplomacy as a core pillar of India's foreign policy, providing an actionable vision to ensure the nation remains an anchor of peace, stability and a rule-based order in an evolving global landscape.

The event was attended by Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (East) of the Ministry of External Affairs Rudrendra Tandon, Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Air Marshal Tejinder Singh, and other senior officials from the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs and the National Security Council Secretariat.