Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday, 12 October 2026, declared that India's ambition to become the world's most powerful nation is rooted not in dominance but in self-determination — ensuring that no foreign power can ever dictate terms to New Delhi. He made the remarks while 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 Core Message on National Power

'National strategy must translate national purpose into action and national intent into tangible outcomes,' Radhakrishnan said, framing India's pursuit of strategic strength as a defensive and principled endeavour rather than an expansionist one. He added that every nation's path to its goals is shaped by what that nation fundamentally stands for.

Radhakrishnan underscored that every sovereign nation — big or small — deserves equal respect and that no country should encroach upon another's territorial boundaries, signalling India's commitment to multilateralism even as it builds strategic heft.

Viksit Bharat 2047 as the Strategic Anchor

The Vice President invoked Viksit Bharat @ 2047 — India's overarching development vision for the centenary of its independence — as the defining national objective around which long-term strategy must be organised. He stressed the importance of aligning this vision with available resources, sound policy choices and clearly defined national priorities.

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 growth and human development; and contributing to international peace and stability.

Constitutional Values as the Bedrock of National Interest

Radhakrishnan argued that India's national interests flow directly from the constitutional values enshrined in its founding document — sovereignty, democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, and the unity and integrity of the nation. This framing positions constitutional fidelity not merely as a domestic obligation but as a guide to foreign and security policy.

International Cooperation on Emerging Security Threats

Highlighting the increasingly interconnected nature of modern security challenges, the Vice President called for deeper international cooperation to tackle terrorism, cyber threats, pandemics, climate change and transnational crime. He noted that protecting national interests and advancing shared global interests are 'often mutually reinforcing objectives, 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, in what appeared to be a message both to the Indian officers present and to the 41 officers from friendly foreign nations attending the course.

Who Was in the Room

The 66th NDC course comprises 122 participants in total, drawn from the Indian Armed Forces, civil services, police and other government organisations, alongside the foreign officers. The NDC, which trains senior-level strategic leaders, is one of India's premier institutions for integrated national security thinking. The Vice President emphasised strategic thinking, integrated policymaking and international cooperation as the pillars of contemporary security leadership.