NEW DELHI: India is confronting a radically transformed security landscape, where technological upheaval is fundamentally altering the very essence of warfare, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan declared on Friday. He emphasized that the nation's defense paradigm must evolve to counter complex threats emerging from the rapid ascent of artificial intelligence, sophisticated cyber capabilities, big data analytics, and the growing influence of private technology corporations.
Technology as the New Arbiter of Strategy
During a commemorative lecture at Jawaharlal Nehru University, held on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gen Chauhan articulated a pivotal shift. "Technology today is defining strategy and war-winning strategy," he asserted. The contemporary global arena, he noted, is characterized not by traditional declared conflicts but by informal, proxy, and hybrid wars that exploit technological vulnerabilities.
Gen Chauhan described the current epoch not as one of gradual change but as a period of "great disruption"—encompassing geopolitical, geo-economic, and technological dimensions—with profound consequences for military doctrine and operations. He cited Operation Sindoor as an exemplar, highlighting how modern military engagements increasingly depend on precision, rapid deployment, and seamless integration across multiple domains, moving beyond mere geographical considerations.
The Peril of Cognitive Colonialism
A central and alarming theme of his address was the concept of "cognitive colonialism." Gen Chauhan warned that societies are now vulnerable to influence and destabilization through advanced information operations, narrative manipulation, and psychological warfare, all supercharged by AI, machine learning, and pervasive data mining.
"Traditional colonialism was led by trading companies. New colonialism is driven by multinational corporations. Cognitive colonialism will be ushered in by large IT and data mining companies," he cautioned. This new form of domination, he explained, has the insidious capacity to engineer widespread social disorder and undermine national sovereignty without the firing of a single bullet, leveraging digital tools to shape perceptions and erode institutional trust.
Legacy of Bose and India's Strategic Path
Linking these formidable challenges to the enduring legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Gen Chauhan framed India's response as part of a broader mission to dismantle colonial-era mindsets. He stressed the imperative of forging a unified national identity grounded in the principle of strategic autonomy.
In an era where "might is right" and the "rules-based global order is under strain," he identified several critical pillars for preserving India's sovereignty:
- Self-Reliance: Reducing technological and defense dependencies.
- Military Preparedness: Continuously modernizing armed forces to address asymmetric threats.
- Anticipation of Threats: Proactively identifying and countering emerging risks in the digital and cognitive domains.
- Societal Resilience: Building a robust, informed citizenry resistant to disinformation and psychological operations.
Gen Chauhan's comprehensive analysis underscores a urgent call to action for India's defense and technological ecosystems. The message is clear: in the age of algorithmic warfare and data-driven influence, national security is no longer confined to physical borders but extends into the digital and cognitive realms, demanding innovative strategies and unwavering vigilance.
