NEW DELHI: Vice President CP Radhakrishnan addressed the participants of the 66th course of the National Defence College (NDC), New Delhi on the topic "India's Core Values, National Interest and National Objective".

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 policy making and international cooperation in dealing with contemporary security challenges.

C.P. Radhakrishnan said that national values ​​are the cornerstone of national identity and guide a country's engagement with the world. He cited India's civilizational philosophy of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family). He cited India's Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, its role as a primary responder during disasters, and its leadership in international initiatives related to climate change and disaster resilience as practical examples of these values.

The Vice President said that India's national interests are guided by constitutional values ​​such as sovereignty, democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, and the unity and integrity of the nation. He emphasized five broad priorities: safeguarding India's sovereignty and territorial integrity; maintaining 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.

Noting the increasing interconnectedness of national security, Mr. Radhakrishnan called for greater international cooperation to address challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, pandemics, climate change, and transnational crime. He said that protecting national interests and advancing shared global interests are often mutually supportive objectives, requiring coordinated action, information sharing, and mutual trust among nations.

Describing a developed India by 2047 as a key national goal, the Vice President stressed the need to align a long-term vision with available resources, sound policy choices, and national priorities. He emphasized that national security includes protecting India's land, airspace, maritime interests, and cyberspace, as well as creating conditions for sustainable development and prosperity.

The Vice President said that India's goal is to become the most powerful nation in the world, but not to dominate others or dictate terms to them, but to ensure that no country imposes unethical conditions on us. He said that the sovereignty and self-respect of every nation must be respected and countries should refrain from encroaching on each other's territorial boundaries.

C.P. Radhakrishnan called for stronger engagement with the Global South, highlighting 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 noted 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 visionary approach, transcending institutional and professional boundaries. He called on participants to understand the values ​​that define their nations, identify the interests to be protected, set clear goals, prioritize them wisely, and develop strategies to translate national resolve into tangible results.