India Aims to Become World’s Most Powerful Nation So No Country Can Dictate Terms: Vice President Radhakrishnan

Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday said India aims to become the most powerful nation in the world, not to dominate other countries or dictate terms to them, but to ensure that no country can dictate terms to India.

Addressing participants of the 66th Course of the National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi on the theme “India’s Core Values, National Interests and National Objectives”, the Vice President emphasised the importance of translating national purpose into concrete action.

“National strategy must translate national purpose into action and national intent into tangible outcomes,” he said, adding that while every nation has its targets, the means of achieving them are guided by the values the country represents.

Referring to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, Radhakrishnan described it as a defining national objective and stressed the need to align the long-term vision with available resources, sound policy decisions and national priorities.

He emphasised that every sovereign nation, irrespective of its size, deserves equal respect and that no country should encroach upon another’s territorial boundaries.

The Vice President said India’s national interests stem from its constitutional values, including sovereignty, democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, and the unity and integrity of the nation.

He outlined five broad national priorities:

Safeguarding India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Preserving its democratic, secular and federal character.

Advancing its strategic, political, economic and military objectives.

Ensuring a stable and secure environment for economic growth and human development.

Contributing to international peace and stability.

Highlighting the increasingly interconnected nature of national security, Radhakrishnan called for stronger international cooperation to address challenges such as terrorism, cyber threats, pandemics, climate change and transnational crime.

He observed that protecting national interests and advancing shared global interests could reinforce each other, requiring coordinated action, information sharing and mutual trust among nations.

“Strategic leadership ultimately means placing the larger national interest above the boundaries of one’s own domain,” he said.

The Vice President also highlighted the importance of strategic thinking, integrated policymaking and international cooperation in responding to contemporary security challenges.

The 66th National Defence College course has 122 participants, including officers from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services, police and other government organisations. The group also includes 41 officers from friendly foreign countries.

Radhakrishnan’s address focused on aligning India’s national objectives with its core values and strategic priorities while strengthening its capacity to address security challenges and contribute to global stability.