India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday resolved to establish a close military partnership with friendly nations, including co-development and joint manufacturing of defense equipment.
Speaking during a gathering of defense ministers attending Aero India in Karnataka state's Bengaluru city, the minister said India offers an enhanced defense partnership to friendly foreign nations.
"We offer a partnership that can accommodate national priorities and capacities. We want to build with you, we want to create with you and we want to develop with you."
Singh added that India's long-term partners such as Russia have not only transferred technology but have also helped in setting up facilities for the production of weapons platforms in the country.
"When we are procuring defense equipment from our valued partner nations, very often they share the technical know-how, set up manufacturing plants in India, and work with our local firms for various sub systems," Singh added.
Singh also called illicit arms trade, terrorism, and illegal buying and selling of drugs to be the biggest security challenges for countries all over the world.
"Today collective security has become essential for our development and prosperity. Terrorism, illegal arms trade and drug smuggling pose a significant security threat to the whole world," he said.
The minister, who is one of India's most senior lawmakers, suggested the need to form new tactics to deal with such threats, especially in the context of terrorists adapting the latest technologies, including messaging apps that provide end-to-end encryption.
"To counter security threats, there is a need to devise new strategies for our current reality. India does not believe in dealing with such security issues in the old paternalistic or neo-colonial paradigms. We consider all nations as equal partners," he pointed out.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the event on Monday, when he made special mention of the country's indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and INS Vikrant, the country's largest warship.
The Indian leader then said that the Aero India exhibition showcases the nation's strength.
"There was a time when it was considered just a show. In the past few years, the nation has changed this perception. Today, it's not just a show but also India's strength: it focuses on the scope of India's defense industry and self-confidence," Modi said.