Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said geo-strategic thinking and contingency planning must become part of everyday preparedness, calling on the armed forces to anticipate crises before they arrive.

“Our goal is clear, our preparedness must reach the crisis point before the crisis itself reaches our doorstep,” Singh said while addressing the second Navy Commanders’ Conference of 2026.

He described the Navy as a strategic anchor for the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, noting that Indian warships now operate from the South China Sea to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

Earlier, at the News18 Defcon event on September 24, the minister had said national security could not be viewed through geographical limits, with threats fluid and borders fixed.

The remarks underscore the government’s emphasis on proactive defence planning amid a rapidly changing regional security environment.

The conference is the apex forum where the Navy’s top leadership reviews operational readiness and charts the future course of maritime strategy.