Rajnath Singh Flags Supply Chain Disruptions, Calls West Asia Conflict ‘Highly Unusual’
Kolkata, March 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday acknowledged the disruption of global energy and trade supply chains amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, describing the situation as “highly unusual.”
Addressing the Sagar Sankalp Maritime Conclave, Singh highlighted that the disruption of trade routes—including the Strait of Hormuz—has affected multiple sectors and the global economy.
“The ongoing conflict between the US-Israel alliance and Iran has thrown the West Asian region into instability, impacting trade routes and the global oil and energy supply chain,” he said.
Singh elaborated, “What is happening in the Middle East is highly unusual. It is difficult to predict the direction in which conditions might proceed. The Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf region are extremely important for global energy security.”
He added, “When disturbances occur here, they directly impact the supply of oil and gas. Today, we are witnessing supply chain disruptions not only in the energy sector but across multiple industries. These uncertainties directly affect the global economy and trade.”
Rising Strategic Competition
The Defence Minister expressed concern over intensifying competition among nations across various domains, noting that “abnormality is becoming the new normal.”
“Nations are clashing on land, in the air, at sea, and even in space. This is a concerning development, and the worrying part is that such abnormal situations are becoming commonplace,” he said.
India’s Maritime Leadership and Self-Reliance
Amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, Singh called for India to assert leadership in the maritime sector, stressing self-reliance as a key measure to counter supply chain disruptions.
“In this era of changing global geopolitics, oceans have once again become central to the world’s power balance. As a major maritime nation, India must lead with confidence, capability, and vision,” he said.
He highlighted the role of high-end and precision technologies in the defence sector and reiterated that “self-reliance” through Defence Public Sector Undertakings is essential to avoid supply chain vulnerabilities.
Singh also set ambitious goals for the maritime industry: placing India among the top ten shipbuilding nations by 2030 and within the top five by 2047.
“Our goal is clear: by 2030, India must be among the top ten shipbuilding nations. By 2047, we must be in the top five. This is a shared responsibility of the industry, workforce, and policy system,” he said.
