Africa at the heart of India’s quest for superpower status — experts

In this era of geopolitical competition and realignment, India recognizes Africa as a key component in its pursuit of superpower status and the continent is thus becoming a crucial player in New Delhi’s ambitious quest for global economic dominance.
India’s multifaceted relationship with African countries is set for a fundamental transformation, as the continent is becoming a crucial player in New Delhi’s global ambitions. A case in point was a naval exercise IMT Trilat held on 21-29 March involving India, Mozambique, and Tanzania that has been hailed as a testament to the strengthening ties between the participating nations. The Indian navy’s recent activities off the northeast coast of Africa, particularly in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict and the threat of piracy, underscore its commitment to regional security. In the latest move, Ethiopia’s ambassador to India has recently revealed that the two countries are “in the final stages of clinching defense cooperation.”
But beyond boosting its strategic military partnerships, India has also used strong trade investments and expanding diplomatic relations to gain a substantial foothold on the continent as part of its broader global economic strategy. India is Africa’s third-largest trading partner behind the European Union and China and India’s trade with African nations has grown 18% annually over the past 20 years, hitting US$103 billion in 2023. As Africa houses three-fourths of humanity and over 39% of the global GDP, India “needs to centre African countries in its engagement with the developing world,” according to Veda Vaidyanathan, associate fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP). In a recent opinion, Vaidyanathan argues that “as India’s aspirations for the Global South take shape, leveraging historical partnerships with African countries remains imperative.”