India’s outlook focuses on respect for sovereignty of all nations: Army Chief

He said there is a need to take note of the growing salience of ‘National Security’ in international affairs and the renewed currency of hard power.

“The pandemic, which began as the health crisis and ended up as a national security event, closed on the heels of the cataclysm in Ukraine. We are now faced with an escalating conflict in West Asia,” he said.

“These instabilities and challenges are compounded by notable economic turbulence and the weaponization of a multitude of attributes and domains from information to supply chains. Issues like radicalisation, terrorism, piracy, illegal migration, refugees, and climate change, add to the bouquet of global concerns,” he added.

He said technology is driving geopolitics like never before and is transforming strategic competition as well as war. He also said India remains the “bright spot” amid such despondency. “The nation’s resolve, resilience and diverse capacities were put through a severe test during the pandemic. Not only did we ride the storm well, ‘Vaccine Maitri’ won universal acclaim,” he said.