India aims to become global power without dominating others: Vice Prez

New Delhi, Oct 12: The Vice President of India, C. P. Radhakrishnan, Monday addressed participants of the 66th Course of the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi, on the theme “India’s Core Values, National Interests and National Objectives”.
Addressing 122 participants, including officers from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services, police and other government organisations, as well as 41 officers from friendly foreign countries, the Vice President highlighted the importance of strategic thinking, integrated policymaking and international cooperation in addressing contemporary security challenges.
Emphasising that national values form the foundation of national identity and guide a country’s engagement with the world, C. P. Radhakrishnan cited India’s civilisational philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). He referred to India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, its role as a first responder during disasters and its leadership in international initiatives on climate action and disaster resilience as examples of these values in practice.
The Vice President observed that India’s national interests flow from the constitutional values of sovereignty, democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity and the unity and integrity of the nation. He underlined five broad priorities: safeguarding India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity; preserving its democratic, secular and federal character; advancing its strategic, political, economic and military objectives; ensuring a stable and secure environment for growth and human development; and contributing to international peace and stability.
Highlighting the increasingly interconnected nature of national security, Radhakrishnan called for greater international cooperation to address challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, pandemics, climate change and transnational crime. He noted that protecting national interests and advancing shared global interests are often mutually reinforcing objectives, requiring coordinated action, information sharing and mutual trust among nations.
Referring to Viksit Bharat @ 2047 as a defining national objective, the Vice-President stressed the need to align long-term vision with available resources, sound policy choices and national priorities. He emphasised that national security encompasses the protection of India’s land, airspace, maritime interests and cyberspace, while creating conditions for sustained development and prosperity.
“India aims to become the most powerful nation in the world not to dominate others or dictate terms to others, but to ensure that no country dictates unethical terms to us,” the Vice-President said. He stressed that every nation’s sovereignty and self-respect must be respected and that countries must refrain from encroaching upon the territorial boundaries of others.
Calling for stronger engagement with the Global South, C. P. Radhakrishnan highlighted the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality and shared development priorities. He urged countries to look beyond challenges and strengthen cooperation in technology, trade, connectivity, education, innovation and capacity building. He also emphasised that corruption remains a major challenge for the Global South and called for collective efforts to eradicate it.
The Vice President urged the participants, as future strategic leaders, to adopt an integrated and forward-looking approach that transcends institutional and professional boundaries. He called upon them to understand the values that define their nations, identify the interests that must be protected, set clear objectives, prioritise them wisely and develop strategies to translate national intent into tangible outcomes.
Air Marshal Manish Kumar Gupta, Commandant, National Defence College, faculty members and participants of the 66th NDC Course were present on the occasion.