Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday clarified India’s resolve to pursue its national interest above all else, declaring that there are “no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests” in geopolitics.
Speaking at a defence summit, Singh drew a parallel between mounting global pressure and the resilience of stone, asserting that India would only emerge stronger from external challenges. His remarks came in the backdrop of strained ties with Washington over President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, as well as a cautious thaw in relations with Beijing after years of border tensions.
“There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. India does not consider anyone an enemy. The interest of our farmers, entrepreneurs is most important to us. India does not consider anyone its enemy. We cannot compromise on our country’s welfare at any cost. No matter how much pressure is exerted, India will continue to give the highest priority to the interests of its farmers, small businessmen, shopkeepers, livestock keepers, and common citizens,” Singh declared.
He stressed that the Narendra Modi government would not bend to economic coercion, pointing in particular to India’s rural and small-scale economy. “We all study in geography that the more pressure is applied, the stronger the rock becomes. I feel that the more pressure is put on India, the more it will emerge as a strong rock,” he remarked.
The Defence Minister is the second senior figure in the Union Cabinet within a week to address the question of external pressure. Earlier in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Modi told a public gathering that India would stand firm against attempts to arm-twist New Delhi over its sovereign choices.
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“From this land of Ahmedabad, I would like to say to my small entrepreneurs, to the shopkeepers, to the farmers and cattle rearers. For Modi, your interest is paramount. My government will not allow any harm to come to small entrepreneurs, to farmers, or to cattle rearers. No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand,” Modi said.
The strain in ties with Washington stems from Trump’s decision, effective August 27, to slap 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports in retaliation for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The White House has accused India of funding Vladimir Putin’s “war machine in Ukraine”, a charge that Indian officials have rejected.
Despite this downturn in relations with Washington, India has seen tentative steps towards reconciliation with Beijing. A Bloomberg report suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a confidential letter to Indian President Droupadi Murmu in March, proposing a reset in bilateral ties after the Galwan Valley clashes of 2020 left relations badly frayed.
All eyes are now on Modi’s forthcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on Sunday, August 31. It will be his first trip to the neighbouring country in seven years, seen as a significant signal of New Delhi’s willingness to recalibrate its diplomacy even as Washington piles on economic pressure.
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