If Needed We Will Be More Aggressor To Defend Ourself: Rajnath Singh
Mumbai: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in his visit to South Korea said that India has never been an aggressor in history but would not hesitate in using its strength to defend itself.
The Union Minister, who arrived here on Wednesday with the aim of enhancing defense and security ties, also underlined that defense diplomacy is “a key pillar of India’s strategic toolkit”.
“India has never been an aggressor in its history nor will it ever be. But that does not mean that India would balk at using its strength to defend itself,” said Singh while addressing a special session of ‘Seoul Defence Dialogue’ in South Korea’s capital.
“In fact, defense diplomacy and maintaining a strong defense force are two sides of the same coin,” he added.
Later Rajnath Singh tweeted saying, “If we work together on the basis of the five principles that have characterized Indian thought and policies for centuries – the principles of Samman (respect), Samvad (dialogue), Sahayog (cooperation), Shanti (peace) and Samriddhi (prosperity), our success is assured.”
Singh also said that countries working in harmony between each other should provide equal access rights for the use of common spaces for all nations in the sea and air.
“We advocate an open and inclusive architecture for the Indo-Pacific region with equal access to ASEAN centrality and global commons,” he said.
The Defence Minister also laid a wreath at the National Cemetery in Seoul today.
Upon his arrival here yesterday, Singh met South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yon and discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral ties.
(With ANI Inputs)
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