CITING examples of the recent US action in Venezuela and the past war with Iraq, Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh on Wednesday said military power stands as the ultimate arbiter of national power and economic strength alone is not enough to ensure national security. “Anybody can be economically strong, but cannot be secure,” he said while underlining that India was colonised despite controlling 60% of the world’s GDP, along with China. The IAF chief was speaking at the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee seminar in Delhi, organised by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS). 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 power.

Source: Indian Express January 22, 2026 03:02 UTC