New Delhi: Citing examples of the recent developments in Venezuela, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said military power stands as the ultimate arbiter of national power and economic strength alone is not enough to ensure national security.
Speaking at the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee seminar in Delhi, the IAF chief said that "anybody can be economically strong, but cannot be secure,” as he underlined that India was colonized despite controlling 60% of the world’s GDP, along with China.
“…Because if you do not have it, you can be subjugated by anybody. Venezuela and Iraq are some of the examples… What does military power do? It will protect your economic activities and give you the freedom and secure the technological infrastructure that you have, and it will give credibility to your diplomacy.” He said all instruments of national power will take you nowhere if you do not have a strong military.
“Unless you have that will to use it, you can keep showing restraint, but that restraint will be seen as a weakness. It is only when you’re strong enough, and you show restraint, that it is seen as a capability,” the Air Chief Marshal said.
