India-Africa Strategic Dialogue: opening address

New Delhi: It is indeed a privilege to be here at the inaugural session of the 2nd India Africa Strategic Dialogue organized by the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). It was under the second India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-II) that IDSA was entrusted to organize academic interchange of views through a series of Strategic Dialogues, the first edition of which was successfully organized in November 2011. Over the years, IDSA has emerged as a premier institution dedicated to objective research and policy studies on all aspects of defence and security. It has done commendable work to promote national and international security through the research and dissemination of knowledge on defence and security-related issues. Living as we do in an inter-connected world where security of everyone is interdependent, the topic of this year’s Dialogue - Common Security Challenges for the Next Decade: Perspectives from India and Africa - is most pertinent and relevant.