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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his Independence Day speech from the historic Red Fort in Delhi on August 15, 2025. During his address, he pledged that India is striving toward self-reliance through energy independence and the development of robust defense systems, vowing to safeguard the nation’s interests “like a wall.” Modi emphasized that self-sufficiency forms the bedrock of a developed India, stating, “Self-reliance is the foundation of a developed India.”
He underscored that true freedom loses meaning if a country becomes overly dependent on others. The speech came at a time when India is under significant pressure from the United States, facing threats of increased tariffs and strained international relations, especially relating to its dealings with Russian oil amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. India expressed its willingness to support diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis and endorsed a summit between former President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Alaska.
The U.S. has announced plans to double tariffs on Indian imports from 25% to 50% if India does not change its crude oil suppliers by August 27. Modi acknowledged the country’s current energy dependence on other nations but reaffirmed that achieving energy independence is crucial for India’s true self-sufficiency.
He called on scientists and engineers to focus on advancing key sectors such as fighter jet engines, semiconductor chips, and military hardware. Modi announced plans to have India-made semiconductor chips on the market by the end of the year and mentioned ongoing efforts to build a domestic space station and establish a defense shield within the next decade, without providing further specifics.
Although he didn’t directly reference Trump, Modi stated that he would “stand like a wall” against policies that harm farmers, emphasizing the importance of agriculture, which employs a large segment of the population and remains a critical aspect of trade negotiations.
“With rising economic self-interest day by day, we must not just worry about crises but instead harness our strengths,” Modi stressed, highlighting the importance of resilience and self-reliance in addressing national challenges.
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