New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday 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.

Speaking at the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture in Delhi, Gen Dwivedi said that national security is about wholesome capability to wage war and deter war.

'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 first hand 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)