Mains Practice Questions

Approach

• Introduce the answer by highlighting India-Africa Relation and its alignment with India’s Foreign Policy goals.
• Highlight the strategic significance of India's engagement with african nations
• Delve into the challenges associated with India-Africa ties
• Conclude positively.

Introduction

India's relationship with Africa is no longer a historical footnote, but a strategic imperative. Driven by a desire to counter rising powers, secure resources, and expand its global footprint, India's Africa engagement aligns seamlessly with its core foreign policy goal of Reformed Multilateralism and Development-centric diplomacy.

Body

Strategic Significance of India's Engagement with African Nations:

• Countering China's Influence: China has been aggressively expanding its economic and political influence in Africa through substantial investments and infrastructure projects.
  • India has extended substantial lines of credit and undertaken development projects in Africa, competing with China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
  • India sees deeper ties with Africa as a way to balance China's dominance and promote a multipolar world order.
• Securing Access to Resources: Africa has 40% of the world's gold and up to 90% of its chromium and platinum. The largest reserves of cobalt, diamonds, platinum and uranium in the world are in Africa.
  • India imports many raw materials to Africa, including minerals, crude oil, and other resources.
  • Increased engagement allows India to secure reliable sources of these resources and diversify its import basket.
  • Example: India imports a significant portion of its crude oil from African nations like Nigeria.
• Expanding Trade and Investment Opportunities: Africa presents a vast potential market for Indian goods and services. Deeper ties can boost bilateral trade, create new investment opportunities, and enhance India's economic footprint globally.
  • Example: The India-Africa Forum Summit, held every three years, focuses on economic cooperation and explores new avenues for trade and investment.
• Strengthening Maritime Security: The Indian Ocean is a vital trade route for India. Cooperation with African nations bordering the Indian Ocean can enhance maritime security, combat piracy, and counter terrorism threats.
  • Example: India conducts joint military exercises( like AFINDEX 2023) with several African countries and provides training and assistance for their maritime security forces.
• Promoting Global Leadership and South-South Cooperation: India seeks to position itself as a leading voice for developing nations.
  • Stronger ties with Africa amplify India's voice on issues of global governance and promote South-South cooperation on matters of mutual interest.
  • Example:The inclusion of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s G20 Presidency showcases India’s advocates for greater representation of African nations in international institutions.

While the strategic significance of India's Africa engagement is undeniable, there are challenges to navigate. Infrastructure limitations like Navigating regional power dynamics due to several military coups, underdeveloped transportation networks, competition with other global powers can hinder the smooth flow of trade.

Conclusion

India must adopt a comprehensive and nuanced approach that balances its economic and strategic interests with its principles of non-interference, respect for sovereignty, and sustainable development. By leveraging its strengths in capacity building, technology transfer, and people-to-people ties, India can enhance its soft power and deepen its strategic partnerships with African nations.