India’s new African horizons: an American perspective

Abstract

While the extensive network of economic, political, and military ties which the People’s Republic of China has constructed across Africa has been the subject of considerable scrutiny – and, increasingly, not a little alarming – on the part of policy-makers and scholars in both the USA and Europe, the emergence of India as a major player on the continent has, until rather recently, gone largely unnoticed. That is changing, however, as Africa with its energy riches, agricultural potential, and other natural resources as well as its growing population finds itself courted by multiple suitors, both old partners and new. In this context, India’s expanding commercial and strategic engagements across Africa represent a significant move in the global geopolitical order taking shape in the twenty-first century. This paper examines India’s rapidly expanding network of relations, analysing the country’s burgeoning public and private investments in the region as well as its policies vis-à-vis African regional organizations and individual states, especially in the security sector. After briefly reviewing the historic role that India has played in Africa, the study looks at the principal motivations for India’s approach to Africa – including the former’s quests for the resources, business opportunities, diplomatic influence, and security – and Africans’ responses to it. In the context of the broader USA–India strategic partnership as well as American political and security interests in Africa-especially as outlined in the official U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, promulgated by the Obama administration in June 2012-the paper argues that India’s willingness to make significant contributions to African peacekeeping and to extend its maritime security cover to the continent’s eastern littoral ought to be welcomed, not least because of the potential positive impact on regional stability and development. Consequently, the author advances the proposition that, while not perfectly aligned, the interests of India and those of USA in Africa are generally complementary and thus there are a number of openings for greater engagement and cooperation between the two countries, a unique opportunity which policy-makers in both countries should be encouraged to seize upon.