Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh on Wednesday emphasized that economic strength alone cannot guarantee a nation’s security, stressing that a strong and decisive military is essential to protect sovereignty. Speaking at the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee Seminar in Delhi, organised by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies, he cited Venezuela and Iraq as recent examples where economic capacity failed to prevent external intervention.

He noted that history offers similar lessons for India, recalling that despite India and China once accounting for nearly 60 percent of global GDP, the absence of adequate military strength led to colonisation. According to Singh, military power remains the ultimate measure of national strength, and without it, even economically sound nations risk subjugation. He added that beyond capability, the will to use military power is equally critical, warning that restraint without strength is often mistaken for weakness.

Quoting poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, the Air Chief underlined that restraint commands respect only when backed by strength. He also pointed out that India’s security challenges are often shaped by developments in its neighbourhood, requiring quicker decision-making, especially in advancing Make in India initiatives and strategic partnerships for next-generation engines and weapon systems.

Singh praised Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, the founding father of the Indian Air Force, for building the force with vision despite limited resources, stating that his leadership placed the IAF on a strong foundation. He added that improved resources today have placed the force in a better position than ever before. Congratulating CAPSS for organising the seminar, Singh said such platforms are vital to keeping the armed forces intellectually prepared in an increasingly uncertain global environment and reaffirmed that a strong Air Force remains crucial to safeguarding India’s sovereignty.