Syllabus: GS2 – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests, India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
Source: The Hindu/25 – 08 -2023
Context:
Africa is now making its concerns heard on global stages like BRICS, the G-20, and the United Nations General Assembly. The continent as a whole is facing significant challenges. In this situation, India has an important role to play in helping Africa overcome these challenges. This is especially important since India is currently leading the G-20 presidency.
Content:
India as an emerging Global leader:
- India’s global diplomacy is shaped by its historical battle against colonialism, profoundly impacting its foreign policy stance.
- With a rich democratic history spanning 75 years, India’s foreign policy is rooted in the principles of democracy, governance, and people-centric diplomacy.
- As a key member of the non-aligned movement, India upholds its commitment to maintaining strategic autonomy and forging independent foreign relations.
- By leading the G-20, a group of developed and developing countries, India actively shapes global economic policies and responses.
- India’s active participation in the United Nations and regional associations like SAARC enhances its influence and ability to drive collective action.
- India’s assumption of the G20 presidency signifies a pivotal juncture, offering a platform to shape international agendas and solutions.
- With calculated actions and a vision for wider influence, India aims to position itself as a rising global force in the complex landscape of international relations.
Exploring the Dynamics of India-Africa Relations
- The historical roots of India-Africa relations stretch back across many centuries.
- The Indian Ocean’s navigational ease fostered a well-established trade network between India and the Swahili Coast, pre-dating European exploration.
- A significant chapter in this relationship is M.K. Gandhi’s involvement. Initiating his political journey in South Africa, he ascended to lead the Indian Natal Congress, establishing vital political connections during the colonial era.
- Post-independence, India fervently championed Africa’s liberation, advocating its cause on various international platforms.
- The dawn of decolonization and the cessation of racial conflicts marked a turning point in India-Africa relations, forging shared narratives of freedom and unity.
- Despite its own post-colonial economic challenges, independent India strived to foster solidarity through South-South cooperation, sharing its modest resources with African nations.
- India’s proactive stance in championing developing African nations found expression through influential platforms like the Group of 77, the Bandung Declaration of 1955, and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
- Factors such as India’s financial constraints and inward-focused economic strategies limited the potential for deeper strategic bonds with Africa.
- In subsequent years, the significance of India-Africa ties regained prominence, with India prioritizing Africa within its foreign policy objectives.
- Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, India extended support to Africa, providing medicines and vaccines promptly, underscoring the sincerity of its commitment.
Crucial Significance of Africa:
- The African continent holds a pivotal place in India’s global engagement, fostering substantial economic and developmental partnerships.
- Rich in resources like crude oil, gas, metals, and more, Africa provides commodities that India lacks in substantial quantities.
- As India seeks to diversify its oil sources beyond the Middle East, Africa emerges as a crucial player in India’s energy strategy.
- India’s strategic interests extend to the Horn of Africa, a pivotal trade corridor linking the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
- Africa’s evolving landscape presents attractive investment opportunities, with some nations offering incentives that align well with India’s growth ambitions.
- With a population exceeding a billion and a GDP of $2.5 trillion, Africa becomes a significant market for I ndia’s products and services.
- Both India and Africa align on matters such as unresolved WTO disputes and advocate for robust multilateral trade systems.
- India’s commitment to fighting terrorism transcends borders, leading to increased collaboration with African nations through intelligence sharing and training initiatives.
Africa’s Complex Challenges:
- Africa, particularly the Sahel region, faces significant existential challenges, including issues like misgovernance, unplanned development, tribal dominance, and corruption.
- New challenges have emerged, such as Islamic terrorism, inter-tribal conflicts, changing climate patterns, rising food prices, urbanization, and youth unemployment, straining the traditional social and political fabric.
- Past military interventions by France, the United States, and Russia’s Wagner Group, aimed at curbing militancy, have often ended up exacerbating the problems, including sustaining dictatorships to safeguard economic interests.
- More than 40% of its population living on less than $1.90 a day, poverty is a pressing concern in Africa.
- Over 20 African countries are grappling with ongoing conflicts, causing mass displacement, instability, and immense human suffering.
- Africa bears the brunt of climate change impacts, experiencing increased frequency and severity of droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. These events damage crops and infrastructure.
- Africa faces critical health challenges, including the prevalence of diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, leading to significant loss of life.
- Less than 60% of sub-Saharan African children attend primary school, often hindered by inadequate educational standards.
- Women and girls confront various obstacles, including gender-based violence, lack of education, and limited economic prospects, contributing to pervasive gender inequality.
- Rampant corruption plagues numerous African nations, undermining development efforts, exacerbating poverty, and amplifying disparities.
India-Africa Collaborations on Various Platforms:
- Since gaining independence, India has actively promoted South-South Cooperation, providing technical assistance and human resource development to other developing countries.
- Initiated in 1964, the ITEC Programme has been a significant endeavor, offering technical assistance and expertise to developing nations. African countries have greatly benefited from this program.
- India’s commitment to building African capacity is evident from its offering of 70 scholarships to students from developing countries in 1949, fostering educational and knowledge exchange.
- India-Africa Forum Summit serves as the highest-level platform fostering trade, investment, development cooperation, and collaborative efforts in agriculture, health, education, culture, and people-to-people connections between India and Africa.
- India-Africa Business Forum facilitates dialogue and collaboration among Indian and African businesses, resulting in significant achievements such as the India-Africa Business Council formation, the India-Africa Investment Promotion Initiative launch, and the execution of trade and investment agreements between India and African nations.
Africa Expert Group (AEG) Report:
- The 20-member AEG, formed by the Vivekananda International Foundation, releases a report titled ‘India-Africa Partnership: Achievements, Challenges and Roadmap 2030’.
- As per the report, Africa is undergoing major transitions, including demographic, economic, political, and social.
- These changes, along with the adverse impact of the pandemic and complicated geopolitics, will transform the continent.
- India has a substantive partnership with Africa and a rich fund of goodwill. However, it is essential for New Delhi to review its Africa policy periodically and make the required changes to stay resilient.
- The report recommends a number of ways to strengthen India-Africa relations, including:
- Strengthening political and diplomatic cooperation, including through the India-Africa Forum Summit.
- Increasing defence and security cooperation.
- Promoting economic and development cooperation, including through the creation of an Africa Growth Fund.
- Increasing socio-cultural cooperation, including through greater interaction between universities, think tanks, civil society, and media organizations.
- The report also suggests the establishment of a special mechanism for implementing the ‘Roadmap 2030’, which can best be secured through close collaboration between the MEA and the National Security Council Secretariat.
From BRICS to UN:
- BRICS collaborates economically with African nations through trade, investments, and development projects. They foster investment opportunities and infrastructure development, boosting connectivity and trade networks.
- 15th BRICS summit took place in South Africa and addressed Africa-related issues with the theme “BRICS and Africa” in South Africa.
- In early September, the 18th G-20 Summit hosted by India is set to follow, with a significant focus on addressing issues of the “global south,” with Africa taking center stage.
- G-20 offers financial aid, debt relief, and policy coordination to African nations, enhancing economic stability and sustainable development.
- The United Nations General Assembly acts as a global platform for African countries to address international issues, facilitates peacekeeping in conflict zones, supports African development objectives, and provides humanitarian aid during crises.
India as a G20 President:
- India’s G20 presidency signifies its global leadership and commitment to addressing complex challenges.
- India is steering discussions among major economies to foster positive change.
- In this context, India’s G20 presidency can make a positive impact on Africa.
- Facilitating trade agreements and investment initiatives between African nations and G20 economies to stimulate economic growth and diversification.
- Sharing technological advancements and expertise with African countries to enhance various sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
- Offering training programs and skill development initiatives to empower African youth and enhance human capital, addressing unemployment challenges.
- Assisting African nations in adopting digital solutions for governance, education, and services, promoting efficiency and accessibility.
- Partnering on infrastructure projects, particularly in sectors like transportation and energy, to boost connectivity and economic development.
- Representing African concerns on the global stage and advocating for fair trade practices, debt relief, and access to resources.
- sing the G20 platform to raise awareness about Africa’s challenges and potential, fostering stronger global partnerships for its development.
India’s Role in Africa:
- Despite changes in trade patterns, India-Africa trade reached $98 billion in 2022-23.
- India ranks as the fifth-largest investor in Africa, extending over $12.37 billion in concessional loans.
- Completion of 197 projects and granting of 42,000 scholarships since 2015.
- Approx. three million people of Indian origin reside in Africa, forming a significant non-native ethnicity.
- India well-equipped to leverage its comprehensive engagement to assist Africa both bilaterally and through multilateral platforms.
- Hosting the G-20 Summit presents an historic opportunity to enhance cooperation and address pressing issues.
- India can explore collaboration with like-minded G-20 partners and multilateral institutions to create a semi-permanent platform, addressing the urgent security and socio-economic issues in Africa.
- The objective is to achieve not only political stability but also promote economic development through effective peacekeeping strategies and institution-building efforts.
- By offering a participative, less exploitative alternative, India can establish an exemplary win-win paradigm in the India-Africa ecosystem for the 21st century.
What is the Way Forward?
- Develop a targeted Africa strategy over the next decade to enhance bilateral relations and cooperation.
- Strengthen India’s development cooperation program by prioritizing key areas, including gender equality, climate change adaptation, and food and health security.
- Focus on investing in Africa’s human capital to address the youth population’s training and employment needs.
- Leverage India’s diplomatic influence to address issues such as corruption and governance challenges in African countries.
- Strengthen efforts to counterbalance China’s presence in Africa through sustainable and equitable partnerships.
- Collaborate with African nations to implement socio-economic development programs aligned with local needs.
- Foster strategic trade agreements and investment collaborations between African nations and G20 economies to stimulate economic growth and diversification.
- Enhance technological transfer and knowledge-sharing with African countries to elevate sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure development.
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