IAF chief warns economic strength is not enough for security, stresses military power and will
New Delhi, January 22. Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has called for stronger defence preparedness, warning that economic might on its own cannot safeguard a nation’s security and sovereignty.
Speaking at the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee Seminar in New Delhi on January 21, he cited recent global examples where weak military capability left countries vulnerable to external pressures and subjugation.
Air Chief Marshal Singh underscored that military power remains the ultimate guarantor of national security, saying that even economically strong nations can be undermined without robust defence forces. Drawing on historical context, he noted that India and China once accounted for around 60 percent of the world’s GDP but were still colonised due to insufficient military strength. He pointed to Venezuela and Iraq as contemporary cases where lack of effective defence capability resulted in loss of autonomy.
While recognising the importance of economic, diplomatic and technological strength, Singh emphasised that a strong military and the resolve to use it are crucial. He cautioned that restraint without credible power can be perceived as weakness, but restraint backed by strength is respected.
Highlighting the pivotal role of air power in national defence, the Air Chief stressed that air capability has repeatedly delivered decisive outcomes, including rapid responses to threats and protection of strategic interests. He called for accelerated decision-making on indigenous defence projects and deeper strategic partnerships to strengthen India’s self-reliance in critical technologies.
Singh also paid tribute to Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, the founding father of the Indian Air Force, for laying a strong foundation for the service, and pointed to continued modernisation as essential for addressing future challenges in a complex global security environment.
