First Person

On 22 July 2026, at the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with India, held on the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for deeper India-ASEAN cooperation amid an increasingly turbulent global environment. Stressing that no country or grouping can address today’s disruptions alone, he highlighted mounting pressures on supply chains, energy, food and health security, and underscored the importance of secure maritime trade and adherence to international law. Referring to 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, Jaishankar urged closer collaboration across trade and investment, technology, digital innovation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, connectivity, and talent mobility to strengthen resilience and diversify partnerships. Reaffirming India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality, he highlighted the convergence between the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, adding that India and ASEAN, together representing around two billion people, must work together to navigate a changing world and realise shared opportunities.

Speaking at the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Strategic Infrastructure Conclave on 16 July 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underscored that roads, tunnels, airfields and ports will remain indispensable to military operations despite the increasing adoption of advanced technologies and precision weaponry. He argued that strategic infrastructure remains the foundation of national security, describing those who build critical border infrastructure as vital to India’s defence preparedness. Highlighting projects such as the Atal Tunnel, Umling La Pass and Sela Tunnel, he praised the BRO’s adoption of tunnelling technology, digital planning and modern construction methods. Singh also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening connectivity through the Vibrant Villages Programme and called for closer collaboration between government, industry, academia and engineers to build resilient, technology-driven infrastructure that advances India’s long-term security and development objectives.

In a recent essay titled “A Framework for Frontier AI and the Dawning of a New Age”, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis warned that humanity has only a few years to prepare for artificial general intelligence (AGI), describing the present as a pivotal moment in technological history. Highlighting growing risks from frontier AI, including cyber, biological, and nuclear threats, he proposed the creation of an independent, US-led Frontier AI Standards Body to evaluate advanced AI systems before their public release. Modelled on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the body would establish safety benchmarks, conduct rigorous testing, and develop technical standards for frontier AI. Beyond AI safety, the proposal carries a broader geopolitical dimension by positioning the United States as the leading architect of global AI governance and standard-setting amid intensifying technological competition. Hassabis argued that such a framework could serve as the foundation for broader international consensus on AI regulation. The proposal has received support from several technology leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

In his keynote address at the 2nd edition of Chandigarh University’s CU Scholars’ Summit 2026 on 1 July 2026, Lt General (Retd) Raj Shukla outlined the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on national security, the economy and society. Describing AI as a foundational technology, he argued that it will create a new divide between strategic “haves” and “have-nots” while playing a defining role in achieving a “Samriddh Viksit Bharat”. Highlighting the military’s shift from hardware-driven institutions to software-centric organisations, he said AI is reshaping every sector and that choosing not to engage with it is no longer an option. Addressing concerns over job losses, Shukla noted that demand for AI professionals continues to grow globally and stressed that while AI will challenge human capabilities, it will not surpass them. Instead, he argued that the convergence of human intelligence and AI will enhance human potential, making AI a transformative force that must be embraced with confidence and intelligence.

In his letter to shareholders in the Mahindra Group’s FY26 Integrated Annual Report, Chairman Anand Mahindra reflected on the changing global order amid geopolitical tensions, supply chain realignments and rapid technological change. Describing the current phase as “Manthan 2.0”, he argued that uncertainty has become a structural feature of the global economy, requiring businesses and nations to move beyond resilience and pursue emerging opportunities.
Mahindra argued that India is well placed to become a trusted “connector economy”, bridging competing economic and political blocs in an increasingly fragmented world. Citing India’s democratic institutions, political stability, large domestic market and strategic location, he called for India to evolve from its legacy of non-alignment into a “multi-aligned” force. He argued that India’s challenge is to convert the current geopolitical realignment into a lasting strategic advantage.

Addressing the Ananta Centre in New Delhi on March 24, 2026, Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy outlined the United States’ strategic approach to strengthening defence ties with India amid shifting Indo-Pacific dynamics. Emphasizing on a partnership rooted in “flexible realism”, he highlighted alignment with India’s “Bharat First” and “India Way”approach. Colby identified key areas of cooperation including defence capabilities, interoperability, and industrial collaboration in areas like maritime security, logistics, and advanced technologies; while underscoring a strong U.S.–India partnership to navigate geopolitical transitions and ensuring a stable, sovereign, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.