SOURCE: IDRW.ORG
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to halt the export of Indian defense equipment to Israel, citing allegations of war crimes by Tel Aviv in Gaza. The court’s refusal to intervene was rooted in the fact that foreign policy is not within its jurisdiction, deferring the matter to the executive. However, the issue raised by the PIL transcends Israel and touches on a broader debate critical to India’s aspirations to become a major defense exporter.
The question of whether a country should regulate its defence exports based on the actions of its buyers in global conflicts is a normative one. It requires India to balance its moral standing with its strategic and economic ambitions in the global defence market. This debate has gained importance as India seeks to transition from one of the world’s largest arms importers to a competitive exporter of weapons and military systems.
India’s defence industry is transforming, with the government actively pushing for a larger share of global arms exports. Recent years have seen indigenous platforms like the BrahMos missile, Tejas fighter jet, and Pinaka rocket system garner international attention. Defence exports are critical not only for bolstering India’s economic standing but also for its strategic influence on the world stage. However, navigating the ethical complexities of arms sales presents a challenge, as evident from the PIL in question.
Defence expert Ranesh Rajan, speaking to idrw.org, asserted that if India is serious about becoming a global weapons exporter, it must adopt a more pragmatic, even ruthless, approach. Rajan argues that India should be less concerned about where its weapons are used in global conflicts and focus instead on developing a competitive edge in the international market. According to him, “curbing defence exports based on the opinions of armchair experts concerning global conflicts will ensure that India never emerges as a serious weapons exporter.”
India’s growing self-reliance in defence production is an important step toward reducing its dependence on foreign-made military systems. However, domestic demand alone is insufficient to sustain large-scale production and innovation. As Rajan notes, the real challenge lies in tapping into the export market, where profitability and long-term viability for defense manufacturers can be achieved.
The global arms market is fiercely competitive, and the most successful arms-exporting nations—such as the United States, Russia, and France—are not overly selective about the end-use of their weapons, as long as they adhere to international regulations. For India, focusing solely on the domestic market could limit innovation and production capacity, forcing it to eventually reinvest in foreign weapons systems, a scenario that undermines its goal of self-reliance.
While the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the PIL suggests that foreign policy, including arms exports, is the domain of the central government, it does not entirely erase the ethical concerns surrounding arms sales to countries involved in controversial conflicts. Critics argue that selling arms to nations accused of human rights violations or war crimes could damage India’s international reputation and moral standing.
However, from a strategic perspective, many defense experts, including Rajan, believe that a pragmatic approach is necessary. In their view, if India wants to compete globally, it must avoid becoming entangled in the internal politics or conflicts of its buyers. The primary focus should be on expanding its market share, enhancing the competitiveness of its defense industry, and securing profitable deals that allow for continued innovation and growth.
Moreover, if India truly wishes to reduce its dependence on foreign arms imports, it must allow its defense companies the freedom to compete globally. Limiting exports based on political concerns could hinder the innovation and production scale needed to sustain a successful defense manufacturing ecosystem.
NOTE: Article cannot be reproduced without written permission of idrw.org in any form even for YouTube Videos to avoid Copyright strikes. Websites doing illegal reproductions will get DMCA and Legal Notices.