New Delhi's decision to post military and defence attaches to several new countries reflects India's changing assessments of strategic interests. Countering China, safeguarding critical gateways and increasing export of Indian military hardware is behind the choice of these new outposts that include several countries in Africa, East Europe and Asia Pacific. Now, GoI must ensure that defence personnel in missions abroad aren't limited to procurement, trade and training, as defence is an essential component of strategic relations.
