Biowarfare: The Invisible Threat That Could Define Future Wars

Manoj Ambat, Editor in Chief, Strategic Vanguard
Aug 4
3 min read

Biowarfare: The Next Great Threat We’re Not Talking About

In the world of defense and geopolitics, missiles, aircraft carriers, and nuclear weapons often dominate the headlines. But the next great battlefield may not involve tanks or fighter jets — it might be microscopic, invisible, and devastating.

We’re talking about biological warfare — the deliberate use of pathogens to disable populations, destroy economies, and reshape global power dynamics. And in a post-COVID world, this isn’t science fiction. It’s a silent reality waiting to be weaponized.

🧪 The History We’ve Forgotten

Biological warfare isn’t new. From Mongol sieges in the 14th century to Japan’s Unit 731 during WWII, humans have long known how deadly biology can be when turned into a weapon.

Even during the Cold War, both the USSR and the United States developed advanced bioweapons programs — weaponizing anthrax, smallpox, and even more obscure agents.

Despite the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, which bans the use and production of such weapons, there remains no verification mechanism. This leaves a dangerous grey zone where dual-use research blurs the line between defense and offense.

🌍 Biowarfare in the 21st Century

The COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how vulnerable even the most powerful nations are to biological disruption. While there's no conclusive proof the virus was weaponized, it served as a terrifying reminder of how quickly viruses can cross borders, collapse systems, and change the global order.

As of 2025, leading nations like China, the US, and Russia have advanced biodefense and research programs — often under the guise of civilian science. Meanwhile, non-state actors and rogue regimes could easily exploit open-source biology and black-market tools.

🇮🇳 Where Does India Stand?

India has signed the Biological Weapons Convention and is actively involved in vaccine research and biosecurity. Institutions like DRDO’s INMAS and the National Institute of Virology play a key role.

But the question remains: Is India prepared for biowarfare as part of modern hybrid threats?

There’s no dedicated military biodefense command.
Inter-agency coordination is weak.
Public awareness and leadership discourse on this subject are nearly absent.

This is a strategic blind spot — one India cannot afford to ignore.

🎯 Strategic Deterrence in the Age of Biowarfare

The fundamental challenge with bioweapons is attribution. Unlike nuclear or missile attacks, you may never know who attacked you — and even if you do, proving it in global forums is nearly impossible.

This makes biowarfare highly appealing for asymmetric warfare, especially for weaker nations or proxy actors seeking to strike without triggering retaliation.

The traditional deterrence model — built on visibility, surveillance, and mutual assured destruction — falls apart when the enemy is invisible.

🔐 What India Must Do

India urgently needs a comprehensive biodefense strategy. This includes:

A centralized National Biosecurity Command
AI-enabled early warning systems
Greater investment in dual-use biotechnology
Public-private partnerships in pharmaceutical security
Leading a global push to strengthen the Biological Weapons Convention

🧭 Final Thoughts

In the coming decades, wars may be waged with lines of genetic code, not bullets. If we’re not prepared, India could find itself caught in a war it cannot see — and one it cannot win by conventional means.

At Strategic Vanguard, we believe in proactive strategy, not reactive fear. The time to act is now.

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