Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan today called for sustained international dialogue, mutual learning and strategic cooperation to address the rapidly evolving global security and developmental challenges.
Addressing the delegates of the fourth edition of the International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP) at Up-Rashtrapati Bhawan, the Vice-President welcomed 38 international delegates and participants from India, particularly highlighting the participation of senior professionals and leaders from friendly and like-minded countries, including those from the Global South.
Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said that IN-STEP reflects the shared commitment articulated during India’s G20 Presidency to build a sustained platform for meaningful dialogue, mutual learning and strategic engagement. He said the interconnected nature of today’s world makes it increasingly difficult for nations to address emerging challenges in isolation.
The Vice-President observed that the strategic environment is undergoing rapid transformation, with traditional security concerns increasingly intersecting with challenges relating to technology, cyberspace, artificial intelligence, energy security, economic resilience, maritime security, climate change and supply chains.
He said IN-STEP provides an opportunity to develop a broader strategic perspective, anticipate long-term implications of global developments and formulate appropriate responses.
“Think globally, engage strategically, and act in cohesion,” Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said, outlining three principles that capture the underlying philosophy of the initiative. He stressed that shared challenges can often be addressed more effectively through cooperation, coordination and collective endeavour.
The Vice-President emphasised the importance of the Global South in shaping international conversations, noting that its diverse experiences and developmental priorities offer valuable lessons in resilience, development, security, governance and cooperation.
He said India’s engagement with the Global South is guided by mutual respect, shared interests, sovereign equality and appreciation of each nation’s developmental and strategic priorities.
The Vice-President said that corruption remains one of the major challenges confronting countries of the Global South and called for coordinated efforts to eradicate it. He urged the participants to work towards building corruption-free systems at every level, emphasising the importance of integrity and transparency in public life.
Highlighting India’s generous assistance to countries of the Global South through the Vaccine Maitri initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that technological advancements and scientific inventions should benefit all of humanity. He stressed that such knowledge and innovations should be shared for the collective good of humanity, reflecting Bharat’s ethos of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ One Earth, One Family, One Future.
He commended the National Security Council Secretariat, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Defence for bringing together the distinguished group of participants and expressed confidence that their engagement would contribute to stronger professional relationships and enhanced strategic understanding among participating nations.
The fourth edition of the International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN-STEP) brings together 38 delegates, including 25 international delegates from 22 countries, including Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mongolia, Nepal, Mauritius, Maldives, Oman, Guyana, Chile, Argentina, the Philippines, Thailand, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Brazil.
IN-STEP is a two-week programme jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Defence and National Security Council Secretariat, in collaboration with the National Defence College. It provides a platform for senior professionals to exchange perspectives on strategic, security and developmental issues and strengthen institutional and professional linkages.The previous editions were held in March 2024, October 2024 and October-November 2025.