India must invest in military modernisation, strengthen strategic partnerships with other countries and boost the domestic defence-industrial base to meet the emerging and future challenges amid the ongoing geopolitical turmoil, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said on Tuesday.
“Modern warfare demands that military leaders must not only be adept at combat but must also possess strategic thinking ability and grasp of the evolving geopolitical landscape,” the Indian Air Force Chief said, speaking at the Capstone seminar in New Delhi. He added that the contemporary security landscape presents multi-faceted challenges, from border disputes and terrorism to cyber threats and regional volatility. India must invest in modernising its armed forces to navigate these turbulent times.
Delivering a keynote address at a seminar, the IAF Chief also said rapid technological advancements, asymmetric threats, and the need for a comprehensive understanding of geopolitical, social, and cultural contexts characterise modern warfare.
The seminar, culminating in the third Warfare and Aerospace Strategy Programme, was hosted by the Indian Air Force, College of Air Warfare, and Centre for Air Power Studies at the Air Force Auditorium at Subroto Park.
“This programme has enabled us to refine the definition of scholar warriors,” the IAF Chief said. The Air Chief Marshal noted this multi-faceted landscape requires military personnel who are adept at combat and possess a deep understanding of the broader implications of their actions.
Various air warriors, retired senior IAF officers, and scholars attended the event, among other things. In his address, he said the colonial experience taught India to remain “ever cautious and adopt a sovereign entity-centric approach” towards foreign policy and defence. Atmanirbharta and Make in India are, therefore, an “offshoot of our strategic culture and a key towards preserving national security”, he said. “Whether India has a strategic culture or not is a matter of opinion; however, realpolitik, statecraft and diplomacy have always been a part of our historical tapestry and have shaped contemporary geopolitics,” the IAG Chief added.
Team BharatShakti
