Indo-Pacific has emerged as a region of great movement, conflict and cooperation, contestations and coalition-building. The emergence of minilateral and multilateral cooperation by the middle powers is increasing in the region, with the regional countries enthusiastically mapping the region focussing on their centrality. History proves that the role of middle-power countries became more prominent during the moments of international transition. The two contrasting powers like India and Australia; one with a post-colonial identity in foreign policy-making, subtle emphasis on non-aligned movement (NAM) and emerging as an influential power, and, on the other, a traditional middle power with an alliance structure and regionalism akin to the Western model, have equal stakes in the region and it is inevitable for them to take a leadership position in building what is called a middle power communion in the Indo-Pacific. This article will explore the understanding of middle powers and how India and Australia, as middle powers; are strategically placed and, being great powers within their respective regions; take the responsibility of region-building and maintaining peace with great powers, and how the Indo-Pacific and Quad are emerging as discourses within their foreign policy-making.

The final two chapters (Chapter VIII-'India-New and Old in Latin America and the Caribbean' and Chapter IX-'The Challenge of Promise') focus, respectively, on the Indian heritage, culture and diaspora in LAC, and the challenges and promises that lie ahead for both India and LAC as they both become more familiar with one another and emerge on the world stage. After assessing that LAC has already 'embarked on a twenty-first century voyage of global discovery', Bhojwani discusses the policy implications for India, including a higher level of internal concert needed for a comprehensive strategy for LAC, and the leadership and coordination role of the Ministry of External Affairs. The latter remarks regarding the institutional role that can be played by the Indian government-and MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) in particular-are equally relevant if seen from the point of view of LAC countries. On both sides, diplomacy, including in bilateral and multilateral fora, is likely to remain, for some time, a strong driving force for increasing political, economic, trade and cultural dealings. The potential gains certainly make a good argument for dedicating more human and financial resources for strengthening bilateral ties between LAC and India. As one of India's major trade partners in the LAC region and fellow member of groupings such as BRICS, IBSA and BASIC, among others, Brazil shares the interest that the relationship of India with the LAC region be broadened and become as inclusive as possible. This is certainly a constituent part of the vision, as articulated in the book, of an India-LAC relationship that will come to achieve a dimension commensurate with its true potential and possibilities. General readers who wish to learn more about Latin America and the Caribbean, beyond the common stereotypes and clichés, will find this book an informative and up-to-date synthesis of LAC's history, society, culture, economy and politics, presented in original and objective form. Those more familiar with and knowledgeable about the region and its characteristics will be particularly engaged by the author's insights and analysis. In either case, the book stands out today, as a refreshing contribution for a deeper understanding of the LAC countries, and of the complexities that lie before the challenge of building the twenty-first century India-LAC relationship.

The geopolitical reshuffling and developments in the twenty-first century forced the countries in the Indo-Pacific region to understand and improvise their strategies. Continental power projection has considerably shifted to maritime prowess; especially so for both India and Australia. While India’s maritime interest is rather recent, Australia had not created a maritime mindset for nearly seven decades. The region of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans has gained central focus due to economic and strategic reasons with the interplay of non-traditional security issues like piracy and terrorism. The critique on maritime security became much more pronounced with China’s rise and visible aggression in South China Sea. India has been at the centre stage of these shifting balances and geopolitics of the region. Regionalism and cooperative and/or comprehensive security became the buzz words for Indo-Pacific. The study will focus on India’s maritime strategy and its convergence with Australia’s maritime strategy and the emerging relation between the two countries.