S Jaishankar claims UPA debated but decided to do nothing after 2008 attacks.

The speaker described India as a representative of the ‘Global South’, which consists of around 125 countries. He emphasized that these countries trust India to voice their concerns and positions on the world stage. India faces challenges at its borders, but the key to defense is not just public posturing, but rather building infrastructure, supporting the military, and creating a responsive system to counter border threats.

In discussing national security, he critiqued the previous administration’s response to terrorism, citing the need for a more proactive approach. He also noted that India now engages with the United States with greater confidence. When asked about exporting BrahMos missiles to other countries, he highlighted the success of Make in India and defense in securing important contracts.

He expressed confidence in the growth of India’s defense exports, attributing this to Prime Minister Modi’s encouragement of domestic defense producers to compete on the global stage.