Rajnath Singh urges Navy personnel to master new technologies amid evolving security challenges

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday urged Indian Navy personnel to prepare for evolving security challenges by mastering emerging technologies, saying the nature of warfare is changing rapidly and future threats are likely to become more complex.
Addressing Indian Navy personnel at the Badakhana in the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Singh said, "I want to tell you one thing very clearly: The times ahead are not easy. The challenges we face today in the defence sector are going to increase further in the future. Not only is it going to grow, but it is going to become more complex."
He said the nature of warfare was undergoing rapid changes and noted that conflicts could be fought without formal declarations of war, while future adversaries may emerge in forms different from those seen in the past. Expressing confidence in the armed forces, Singh said Indian soldiers had adapted to every challenge over the years and urged personnel to understand, learn, adopt and master new technologies. He added that the government would make every effort to provide the armed forces with the best weapons, technology and resources.
Highlighting the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean Region, the Defence Minister said preparedness and regular training would help minimise sacrifices and losses during wartime.
"The greater the preparation and practice, the less sacrifice and loss will be incurred during wartime," Singh said.
He said more than 90 per cent of India's trade, including energy supplies, oil and gas, passes through these maritime routes in the Indian Ocean Region, making it vital to the country's economy and future.
According to Singh, the region is becoming increasingly complex with the growing presence and activities of extra-regional powers, leading to a new strategic competition. He said several countries were seeking to expand their influence in the region and asserted that, as the largest and most
responsible power in the Indian Ocean Region, India remains the primary guarantor of peace and stability.
Expressing confidence in the Navy, the Defence Minister said he was certain its personnel would continue to meet future challenges and convert them into opportunities.
Earlier in the day, Singh was received at INS Dega by Visakhapatnam District Collector M Abhishikth Kishore, Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi and Visakhapatnam North MLA Vishnu Kumar Raju. He is scheduled to dedicate INS Mahendragiri to the nation on Saturday. (ANI)