25th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Nation State Risk and the Future Influence in Security From China, Russia And North Korea

Chairman Ravi Batra advocated for the revival of classical diplomacy, cautioning against appeasement and drawing lessons from Neville Chamberlain’s interactions with adversaries contrasted with Winston Churchill’s resolute leadership. He emphasized that initiating conventional war the “First Step” is far more perilous in a nuclear-armed world and must be prevented. Batra highlighted the importance of maintaining public respect in diplomacy to complement private candid discussions and underscored the existential risks posed by nuclear-armed states.

He proposed the creation of multilateral security commitments, akin to NATO, for strategic regions such as the South China Sea to deter conflict. Batra emphasized upholding international agreements, including the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, warning that violations erode trust and sovereign integrity. He also advocated for cultural coexistence and international relations grounded in mutual respect, framing these measures as essential to prevent the catastrophic human and infrastructural consequences of modern warfare and to avoid protracted conflicts.