In Greek mythology, Icarus was the son of an architect called Daedalus. They wanted to escape from the island of Crete since the king had imprisoned them for sharing their secrets. Daedalus had constructed wings from birds’ moulted feathers and some other materials. He had used the beeswax for the ‘construction’ of the wings. Daedalus had warned his son that he should not fly too high. But Icarus became overambitious and flew too close to the Sun. The heat melted the wax in his wings, and he drowned in the sea.

The India-Russia relationship has entered a new phase, marked by intensified bilateral engagements over the past six months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow twice this year, in July and October, to strengthen ties with Russia, a steadfast ally. Most recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day visit to Moscow (December 8–10, 2024) signaled a new chapter in the India-Russia defence partnership.

As the United States continues to provide both overt and covert support to conflicts in Eurasia and the Middle East, a growing grassroots initiative known as the 'Defend the Guard' movement has emerged to challenge federal military policies at home. Originating in 2015 with the introduction of the 'Defend the Guard Act' by the West Virginia legislature, this movement seeks to protect the constitutional rights of states and National Guard personnel.

Mr. Chairman, Director-General, Distinguished Delegates, Civil Society Colleagues: