New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday said that the world has been “cooling down” from major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, with the turmoil “interspersed” with “subnational conflicts” and common threats to global peace like terrorism, radicalisation, and mass cyber-attacks.
He also pointed out a “subtle” shift from democracy to “authoritarianism,” which feeds into the turmoil in the world.
“The world is just cooling down from two major conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, wherein the majority of nations took sides based on realism, idealism or religion. The turmoil is also interspersed with ongoing subnational conflicts and common threats to global peace like terrorism, radicalisation, mass cyber-attacks, and a subtle shift from democracy to authoritarianism,” Dwivedi said while speaking at the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture here.
Highlighting that the security dynamics are constantly changing and have become unpredictable, the Army Chief said that the world has been facing new challenges, which led to the fall of regimes in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, and recently in Bangladesh.
“The world has been facing new challenges, which led to the fall of regimes in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and many more. The security parameter is like shifting sands, where high tides and low tides can’t be predicted,” Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Dwivedi said.
He added that the nation-states were indulging in forming part-time friendships, also known as ‘friends by compulsion’, which was a new phenomenon.
“The idealists are becoming realists, and vice versa. Part-time friendship is a new emerging phenomenon, also referred to as ‘friends by compulsion’. The duration of an elected government or the fall of an elected leader is changing the entire approach of a nation. We see what’s happening in the US, Canada, or Bangladesh,” Dwivedi added.
He also highlighted the importance of emerging technologies in national security, saying that technological prowess has become the new currency of deterrence and data has become the new capital of trade and security. (ANI)
China’s Rise Hampers India’s Effort to Be Leader of Global South: Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday said the rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic force hampers India’s effort to be the natural leader for the Global South.
He added that India needs to look at the possibilities of Africa as a future power centre.
“The rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic force adds complexity, creates competition, and hampers India’s effort to be the natural leader for the Global South,” Gen Dwivedi said while speaking at the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture in Delhi.
The Army Chief reflected on the challenges that India is facing in its ability to shape key international decisions.
“With the democratic shift and resource control race, we need to look at possibilities of Africa as a future power centre… India’s position will remain pivotal due to its geography, demography, democracy, prosperity, soft power, and inclusive approach… India, despite having the largest population, largest democracy, 7th largest land mass, and a geostrategic location, continues to remain at a relatively lower global standing,” he said.
“We have been repeatedly blocked, leaving us with little ability to shape key international decisions directly. Even BRICS has faced setbacks… Its purported attempt to upend the mighty US dollar has invited an open pushback from the Trump administration. In light of the same, we need to closely watch SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation),” he added.
General Dwivedi highlighted the importance of emerging technologies in national security, saying that technological prowess has become the new currency of deterrence and data has become the new capital of trade and security.
“Security is about wholesome capability to wage war and deter war. Healthy military-civil fusion, Aatm Nirbhar defence industrial base, dual-use assets at the national level, well-informed and empowered decision-makers of time framework, and inclusive approach for citizen warriors play a pivotal role,” Dwivedi said.
“Technology prowess has become the new currency of deterrence. Data has become the new capital of trade and security,” he added.
He said that anti-colonial allies champion multi-world order and that bandwagoning of nations helps prevent conflict.
“I imagine what Gen Rawat would have said had he been required to give us some guidelines on the envisaged role of India in the emerging security paradigm in the centrality of security forces, anti-colonial allies champion multi-world order and bandwagoning of nations helps prevent conflict. Thus, be a part of all frameworks like SCO, BRICS, BIMSTEC, Indian Ocean Regional Association, etc,” he said.
He spoke about the importance of India aligning with its partners in the Global South.
“Reform the UN Security Council to include Global South representatives. Play an active role in conflict resolution as a negotiator or a mediator. Harness the positive strength of the Indian diaspora the world over for humanitarian causes. Share a common platform for global commerce, enable the emergence of the Global South, be the leader in sharing additional resources with the have-nots for better socioeconomic development,” Gen Dwivedi said.
“Lead peacekeeping operations, advocate nuclear weapons as a political asset only for deterrent purposes as long as possible, lead GWOT (Global War on Terrorism) by virtue of facing it firsthand in J&K, the northeast, and against left-wing extremism; I would like to assure you that the Indian Army remains aligned and integrated with the nation,” he added.
(ANI)
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