Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday unveiled ‘Raksha’, a strategic blueprint that outlines India’s vision for defence diplomacy over the next 10 years. The document sets out a roadmap for strengthening India’s defence partnerships with countries across the world, guides strategic engagement and supports national security goals through stronger international cooperation.

The Defence Ministry described ‘Raksha’ as a comprehensive framework for the coming decade. The blueprint marks a shift towards a more proactive approach to India’s defence diplomacy. It seeks to align the country’s national security priorities with long-term global cooperation. The ministry said the document will support greater stability and mutual growth while helping India respond to changes in the global security environment.

The ministry said defence diplomacy remains an important part of India’s foreign policy. It said ‘Raksha’ provides a clear and actionable vision for the next decade. The document aims to strengthen India’s position as an anchor of peace and stability. It also focuses on supporting a rule-based international order as the global strategic landscape continues to evolve.

"As defence diplomacy is a core pillar of India's foreign policy, this document provides a clear, actionable vision for the next decade, ensuring that India remains an anchor of peace, stability, and rule-based order in an evolving global landscape," the ministry said. It added that the document seeks to foster long-term stability and mutual growth.

‘Raksha’ identifies four key areas for India’s defence diplomacy. These include strategic partnerships, capacity building, indigenous defence exports and maritime security. Through these areas, the government plans to expand defence cooperation while strengthening India’s role in the global security environment.

The strategic partnerships pillar focuses on deepening India’s security cooperation with friendly countries. This includes stronger bilateral ties as well as greater cooperation through multilateral platforms. The approach aims to build long-term defence relationships and improve coordination with partner nations.

The capacity-building pillar focuses on improving military cooperation with friendly countries. India plans to expand joint military exercises and training programmes. It also seeks to promote the sharing of best practices between armed forces. These efforts are expected to improve operational cooperation and strengthen the defence capabilities of partner nations.

Indigenous defence exports form another major part of the 10-year vision. The government aims to promote defence platforms made in India and expand their presence in international markets. The ministry said the focus will be on establishing India as a reliable global hub for defence manufacturing. The initiative also supports the broader push to strengthen India’s domestic defence industry and increase its role in the international defence market.

Maritime security is the fourth major pillar of the blueprint. India plans to strengthen its role as a net-security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. The vision also focuses on improving India’s ability to respond quickly during security challenges and emergencies at sea. The government aims to enhance cooperation with countries in the region as part of its wider maritime security efforts.

The launch event in New Delhi was attended by senior officials from the defence and external affairs ministries.