Text of the Vice-President's address to participants of the International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP)

I welcome you all to uprashtrapati Nivas for this very significant interaction. I am grateful to NDC for organising it.

It is an absolute delight to be amongst distinguished participants of inaugural International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP).- a farsighted   initiative fostering global cooperation and shared understanding on strategic matters of profound importance.

Bharat is home to one sixth of humanity, with its civilisational ethos of peace and harmony coupled with constitutionally structured and functional democracy at all levels, is an obvious pacemaker for global peace.

IN-STEP two week strategic engagement at NDC New Delhi under the aegis of the National Security Council Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Defence is a timely collaborative endeavour with participation of International delegates from 21 countries and 8 Indian officers.

I gather that the National Defence College and the Vivekananda International Foundation have thoughtfully curated this much needed insightful program in strategic domain.

Over two weeks of seminars and interactive sessions would for sure be rewarding.

It is a significant occasion to explore a diverse array of topics - from geopolitical dynamics and security challenges to diplomatic negotiations and conflict resolution strategies.

Global peace and security are fundamental to growth. Peace is best secured from position of strength. Ever preparedness for war is safest passage to peaceful environment.

There has been over the years sea change in security concerns and methodology to address the same. Gone are the days of conventional warfare and security threats.

Now technological advancement and onslaught of disruptive technologies have direct bearing on all issues concerning security. 

Conflagrations in any part of the world turn out to be global challenge. Resolutions can emanate from collaborative endeavours. Isolation approach is now a matter of the past.