Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh  stressed the necessity of strong military capability, warning that without it, even powerful nations risk being subjugated by others.

Citing historical examples, Air Chief Marshal Singh noted that India and China once together accounted for nearly 60 per cent of the world’s GDP, yet their economic dominance did not prevent them from being captured and colonised.

Drawing parallels with more recent events, Air Chief Marshal Singh referred to countries like Venezuela and Iraq to underline that even economically sound nations remain vulnerable in the absence of a robust military, reinforcing his assertion that military power ultimately serves as the final guarantor of sovereignty.

Addressing the 22nd Subroto Mukherjee Seminar in Delhi, Air Chief Singh said, “We must understand that military power stands as the ultimate arbiter of national power. Anybody can be economically sound but can’t be secure. We have the example of our own country, we plus China controlled 60% of worlds GDP at one time, but that didn’t stop us from getting captured and colonised. Any one of these powers is very important, but finally, what is required is a robust military, because if you don’t have it, you can be subjugated by anybody. Venezuela and Iraq are the most recent examples. It is the military power which is important, but what is more important is the will to use that military power,” he said.

The US invasion of Iraq, referred to as Operation Iraqi Freedom, was launched in March 2003 by a US-led coalition based on later-disproven allegations that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and had links to al-Qaeda. The military campaign resulted in the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein’s regime.

Emphasising that restraint is often perceived as weakness in the absence of a robust military, Air Chief Marshal Singh said that restraint is respected as a capability only when a nation is strong enough to exercise it from a position of power.

“Unless you have that will, you can keep showing restraint, but that restraint will be seen as a weakness. It is only when you’re strong enough, and you show restraint, that it is seen as a capability, stating, ‘kshama shobhatee us bhujang ko, jisake paas garal ho usako kya jo dantaheen, visharahit, vineet, saral ho.’ (Forgiveness befits that serpent which possesses venom; What good is it to one who is toothless, venomless, humble, and simple?),” he said. 

Praising the founding father of the Indian Air Force, Subroto Mukherjee, for building the force with foresight despite limited resources, Air Chief Marshal Singh said that Mukherjee set the IAF on the right path, enabling it to grow from strength to strength over the years.

“Subroto Mukherjee built the Indian Air Force in an era of constraints, uncertainties, and limited resources… With the kind of foresight he had, he took us on the right path, because as they say, well begun is half done. He put us on the right path, and we have been growing from strength to strength. I think I am in a much better place than my predecessors because resources continue to get better and better,” Air Chief Marshal Singh said.

Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee is widely recognised as the Father of the Indian Air Force and a visionary pioneer who became the first Indian Chief of the Air Staff after independence. Through his leadership and foresight, he played a crucial role in transforming the IAF from a British-controlled entity into a self-reliant and modern air force.