Rajnath Singh calls for stronger global naval cooperation at MILAN

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has urged the international community to work collectively to address the increasingly complex and interconnected challenges in the maritime domain, guided by mutual respect and a spirit of cooperation. Addressing Navy Chiefs and Heads of Delegations from 74 countries during the inaugural ceremony of Exercise MILAN Vishakhapatnam on Thursday. Singh asserted that traditional threats now coexist with emerging challenges such as piracy, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, trafficking, cyber vulnerabilities, and disruptions to critical supply chains.
He added that climate change is intensifying natural disasters, making humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations more frequent and demanding. “The role of navies in international peacemaking has only increased over time. There has been an exponential economic growth during the last few decades leading to massive increase in international trade and transport. There has also been a rise in contests for ownership of straits and channels, sometimes causing threats of flare up,” Singh said.
He noted that increasing international attention to underwater resources, particularly rare-earth minerals is adding a new dimension to the tension. Singh also stressed the need to safeguard waters from the terrorist activities which are spreading tentacles across countries and regions. Emphasising that no single navy, however capable, can address the emerging challenges alone, he underscored the importance of enhanced cooperation among the Navies to ensure a safer and more secure future.