Military power remains the ultimate arbiter of national security, says IAF Chief A.P. Singh

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Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, speaks during the 22nd Subroto Mukerjee Seminar focused connected  aerospace powerfulness  and nationalist  information    astatine  Air Force Auditorium, successful  New Delhi, connected  January 21, 2026.

Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, speaks during the 22nd Subroto Mukerjee Seminar focused connected aerospace powerfulness and nationalist information astatine Air Force Auditorium, successful New Delhi, connected January 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh connected Wednesday (January 21, 2026) emphasised that subject powerfulness remained the eventual arbiter of nationalist security, asserting that economical oregon diplomatic spot unsocial could not safeguard sovereignty.

Speaking astatine the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee seminar connected nationalist information imperatives successful New Delhi, helium cited the caller experiences of Venezuela and Iraq arsenic cautionary examples of nations near susceptible without robust defence capabilities.

“Military powerfulness stands arsenic the eventual arbiter of nationalist power. Any 1 of these powers is precise important but finally, what is required is simply a robust military, due to the fact that if you don’t person it, you tin beryllium subjugated by anybody. We person the illustration of our ain country, we positive China controlled 60% of world’s GDP astatine 1 time, but that didn’t halt america from getting captured and colonised,” the Air Chief Marshal said, adding that it was the subject powerfulness which was important, but what was much important was the volition to usage that subject power. He warned that unchecked restraint could beryllium misinterpreted arsenic weakness, whereas restraint backed by spot was respected arsenic capability.

Highlighting the important relation of aerial powerfulness successful modern conflict, Air Marshal Singh said aerial capabilities had repeatedly delivered decisive outcomes — from evacuations successful struggle zones and strikes against violent infrastructure, to accelerated responses that nonstop “a wide signal” to adversaries. He underscored that continued absorption and concern successful aerial powerfulness was cardinal if India was to stay a unit to beryllium reckoned with.

Recalling the bequest of Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, the founding begetter of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Singh noted that Mukherjee built the unit nether important constraints and laid the instauration for its growth. He said today’s IAF was successful a stronger presumption than ever earlier owed to improved resources, but cautioned against complacency. “Let america not remainder connected past glory. Let america brace up for the aboriginal challenges,” helium added.

Organised by the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS), the seminar brought unneurotic defence thinkers and subject enactment to sermon evolving information challenges successful an progressively volatile planetary environment.

Published - January 21, 2026 07:10 p.m. IST

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