VP | Peace is not an option, It is the only way

The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar underscored the paramount importance of achieving and upholding peace through a multifaceted approach, combining ideation, advocacy, outreach, persuasion, and dialogue, while also being vigilant and prepared. He also noted that “being prepared for war is a pathway to peace,” further emphasizing that a nation’s strength stands as the most impactful defense and deterrent. In addition, he highlighted the significance of harnessing a nation’s soft power and economic strength as integral components in enhancing the security environment.

Highlighting the emergence of deep technologies like AI, robotics, quantum, semi- conductors, bio-tech, drones and hypersonics have re-written the very character of war, the Vice-President stressed that “Prowess and mastery of these domains will determine the strategic haves and have nots of the future”.

Addressing the Chanakya Defence Dialogue-2023 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Shri Dhankhar congratulated the Army for conception of this ideation forum to dissect contemporary challenges to global security and peace. He expressed confidence that CDD will turn out to be a well suited platform for in-depth analyses of security complexities in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, ultimately paving the way for collective security solutions in the region.

Referring India as the ‘Karmabhoomi’ of some of the finest strategic mind and spiritual thinkers, the Vice-President noted that ‘India is singularly gifted with a civilisational ethos of thousands of years’.

In line with the wisdom of Acharya Chanakya, who emphasized the significance of both defending the nation and nurturing its culture through arms and scriptures, the Vice-President highlighted the enduring relevance of these words in our modern context and the “strength to be relevant and to secure proper global order” he added.

Taking about the ongoing crises in Ukraine and West Asia, the Vice-President expressed concern that despite globalization and economic interdependencies, conflicts endure. The skill of nations in converting economic surpluses into hard power is gaining importance. Therefore, Shri Dhankhar stressed on the urgent need to explore innovative approaches to strengthen deterrence and revitalize diplomacy for more effective conflict resolution.

The Vice President noted that “National Security today is an aggregation of myriad attributes and capacities – the military is just one part of the pie”. Shri Dhankhar emphasized on the need of “diverse pieces must all come together to create a robust power dynamic” and finding resolutions that can fit in the present environment.

General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff,Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice-Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal A P Singh, Lt. Gen. P.S. Rajeshwar (Retd.) Director General, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), Vice-Chief of the Army Staff,Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Excellences, General V.N Sharma, Former Chief of the Army Staff, Admiral S. Lamba, Former Chief of Naval Staff,Distinguished Delegates & Guests from Bharat and Abroad,Officers from the Defence Services, Think Tanksand other dignitaries were present on the occasion