As New Delhi seeks to develop stronger ties with the continent, the largest joint naval exercise ever took place in the West Indian Ocean this week in India's largest Africa.
The six-day naval exercise is co-hosted by Tanzania and includes eight countries with coastlines in the Indian Ocean, including Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and South Africa. As India is looking to establish itself as a regionally selected security partner, the exercise will focus on anti-piracy businesses.
Harsh Pant, director of the Strategic Research Programme at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi, said that the naval exercises are not only inspired by India's desire to engage with Africa on regional security issues, but also inspired by advancing broader diplomatic and economic goals on the continent.
“Working with Africa on regional priorities and managing some of the local challenges in maritime space is becoming more important for India,” says Pant. “But I think it also fits India's broader foreign policy goals, focusing on the global South.”
New Delhi holds a major partner position
India has long sought to harness relations in Africa to promote broad geopolitical and economic benefits. For example, India and African countries are collaborating with their desire to reform the global governance structure, as they help secure permanent membership in the G20 African Union during the group's presidency in 2023.
The trading relationship is steadily growing between both sides. India is now Africa's third largest trading partner, after China and the European Union, reaching $93 billion in 2022, an increase of more than nine times since the turn of the century.
As Africa is hoping not to get caught up in the crossfire of the escalating US-China trade war, Panto says India has established itself as a potential partner with a relatively immune and advantageous immunity from these tensions.
“African countries are wary of being trapped in the middle of a contest between the US and China,” he says. “In pursuing independent policies from both countries, India offers African countries a way to manage this greater structural change. This kind of military exercise will help hone India's qualifications as a viable partner.”
Africa seeking alternative trading partners
These involvement also occurs when many African countries are looking for alternative trading partners after being hit by tariffs from the US. South Africa already has several lines with the new Trump administration, including those whose ambassadors in Washington, D.C., but is one African country that is about to diversify away from the US in light of its trade policy.
South Africa's Vice President Paul Mashatair said last week that he would try to strengthen business relations with India and others to combat the effects of US tariffs.
This could create an opportunity for India to increase its involvement with India, Pant said.
“There's this feeling that the US has no interest in Africa, especially under Trump,” he tells African businesses. “Of course, China has an interest in Africa and has a major stake in the continent, but is now tied to a contest with the US. India has no issues and can bring partnerships to the region.”
