Former Chief of the Army Staff Gen M.M. Naravane (Retd.) stressed the importance of adaptability, economic resilience and indigenous defence production while addressing questions on global security challenges during a session hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Kolkata.
The session, titled "Prevailing Global Situation & Impacts on India", brought together policymakers, strategic affairs experts, defence leaders and economists to discuss the evolving geopolitical landscape and its implications for India's security and economy.
Chief Guest R.N. Ravi, Governor of West Bengal, was present at the event alongside ICC President Brij Bhushan Agarwal, ICC Director General Dr Rajeev Singh, former Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and several leading experts from the fields of defence, economics and strategic affairs, including Gen Naravane.
'National interest must remain the guiding principle'
Responding to a question from reporters on the current global situation, Gen Naravane said uncertainty and change have always been features of international affairs.
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"The global situation has always been in a state of flux. It is not something that has happened only today. The need of the hour is to adapt to these changes while always keeping our national interest in mind," he said.
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According to the former Army chief, decisions guided by long-term national interest ultimately serve both the country and its citizens.
Highlighting India's growing drone manufacturing capabilities, he said indigenous companies and MSMEs have played a significant role in helping the country build large-scale drone production capacity.
On Bangladesh relations and border fencing
Asked whether changing dynamics with Bangladesh posed a new security challenge for India, Gen Naravane dismissed concerns of any emerging threat.
"Relations between countries always have their ups and downs. A down should not be seen as something negative. After a down, there will be an up again. I think now the trajectory of relations between India and Bangladesh is again on the upside," he said.
On the issue of border fencing along the India-Bangladesh frontier, he noted that the process has been underway for more than a decade.
"There is nothing new about it. The border fencing with Bangladesh has been ongoing for a long time. It is a difficult border to fence because of the riverine terrain. Some stretches, particularly between West Bengal and Bangladesh, are now being covered so that the entire border can eventually be fenced," he said.
Economic security drives national security
Answering a question from News Ei Samay on whether India is prepared for a future where economic security and national security are increasingly intertwined due to conflicts such as the Iran-US crisis, Gen Naravane said the two have always been closely linked.
"National security has always been linked to our economic security. In fact, it is the economy which drives everything else," he said.
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He added that India's focus remains on strengthening self-reliance, diversifying supply chains and expanding domestic production to reduce vulnerability to global shocks.
"While it is not possible to completely isolate ourselves from developments on the world stage, our efforts are on to diversify our sources, diversify our supply chains and give increased importance to domestic production so that we are better prepared for future disruptions," he said.
'Future wars must be fought with Indian equipment'
On ongoing military modernisation and recent acquisitions by the Indian Air Force, including additional Rafale jets and fifth-generation aircraft programmes, Gen Naravane described modernisation as a continuous process.
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"Military modernisation is an ongoing process and it never finishes. It is part of the continuing effort across the Army, Navy and Air Force," he said.
However, he emphasised that India's long-term objective should be greater reliance on indigenous defence equipment.
"The effort will be to have as much indigenous equipment as possible so that we fight and win future wars with Indian weapons and equipment," he said.
Responding to a question on Pakistan's perceived role in the ongoing West Asia crisis, Gen Naravane rejected suggestions that Islamabad had emerged as a key intermediary.
"There is no question of anybody being overlooked. Pakistan is hardly an interlocutor. They are just a courier service," he remarked.
The discussion highlighted the growing link between geopolitics, economic resilience and military preparedness, with Gen Naravane stressing that India's long-term security will depend on adaptability, self-reliance and a sustained focus on national interests amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.
