Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha has said that there is a pre-eminent shift in global strategic centre of gravity to the Asia-Pacific region and sought greater cooperation among the defence forces of the countries for stability in the region.
Raha was speaking on Regional Security Environment at the SASEAN Defence Chiefs Dialogue in Malaysia on Monday. Raha is on a three-day visit for the conference that began on Sunday.
“We hope to see increased cooperation and collective action to exchange information, build infrastructure and strengthen capabilities. In this manner, we would gain from each others strengths and understand each other better towards lasting peace, stability and prosperity in the ASEAN region,” the Air Chief said at the conference attended by defence chiefs of from ASEAN, SAARC and the observers from China, Russia and United States of America.
Raha delivered the talk on “Addressing Dynamic Challenges’ from the perspective of Indian Armed Forces.
The Air chief further said, “Indian Armed Forces being the 3rd largest military force has the largest volunteers Army. The professionalism and the apolitical nature of the Indian Armed Forces is a major stabilising factor in the Indian Subcontinent,” he said.
He further said that our Armed Forces are transforming into a modern, flexible and credible Power with Full Spectrum Capability to safeguard India’s National Interests and Objectives. In the end he said, “We wish to collaborate and engage effectively with SASEAN nations to enhance the security of our region and further our mutual interests of economic development and progress”.