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1. Introduction: India's Role in the Global South: Historical and Contemporary
Lately, all eyes were on South Asia, however it is still important for the business community in Turkiye and around the World, to follow the developments in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, due to the importance for global trade and supply chains, as well as connectivity projects. Furthermore, India’s role for Africa and the Global South is an issue to follow closely for the future.
India’s commitment to the Global South is deeply rooted in its history and identity as a post-colonial democracy. Mahatma Gandhi’s formative experiences in South Africa laid the groundwork for India’s solidarity with other formerly colonized nations. As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, India positioned itself as a bridge between the East and West during the Cold War. Today, it continues to advocate for equitable global governance by supporting the African Union’s permanent inclusion in the G20 and calling for reforms in the UN Security Council. India’s development partnerships, framed within South-South cooperation, emphasize capacity-building, technology transfer, and low-interest loans, offering alternatives to traditional donor models. These initiatives align with African nations’ aspirations for sovereignty, partnership, and economic modernization (Source: Africa Center for Strategic Studies). However, for developmental cooperation to continue, India should maintain an image as a global power that promotes peace and stability.
2. The Impact of Regional Conflicts on India's Global South Image
While India seeks to champion peace and development abroad, its regional disputes—particularly with China and Pakistan—pose challenges to its image as a stable power. Incidents such as the Galwan Valley clash and ongoing tensions in Kashmir attract global scrutiny and may create perceptions of India as a regional power embroiled in conflict. For African nations that prioritize internal stability and peaceful development, these regional frictions raise concerns. Although India avoids large-scale military interventions, its assertive posturing in the Indo-Pacific may contradict the pacifist principles it promotes. Mitigating these contradictions through diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation would enhance India’s soft power appeal in Africa, and inspire more confidence to potential partners from other countries.
3. India’s Engagement in Africa: Key Features
India’s Africa engagement is multi-dimensional, covering trade, capacity-building, and security cooperation. The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) has institutionalized political dialogue, while the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Partnership fosters business-to-business and government-level ties. India is increasingly active in sectors such as ICT, healthcare, and renewable energy. Notably, its Pan-African e-Network project has brought tele-education and telemedicine to 47 African countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s "Vaccine Maitri" initiative earned goodwill by providing millions of doses to African states. Moreover, India’s maritime strategy includes strengthening naval cooperation and port infrastructure, particularly in East African states bordering the Indian Ocean. These multifaceted efforts demonstrate India’s commitment to being not just a donor, but a partner (Sources: The Diplomat, CII-EXIM Conclave Report).
4. Comparing India’s and Türkiye’s Africa Policies
India and Türkiye both frame their African policies around mutual development and diplomatic expansion, but their approaches reflect different historical and cultural linkages. Türkiye’s Africa outreach accelerated in the 2000s, marked by embassy openings, humanitarian aid through TİKA, and Turkish Airlines’ extensive African routes. Ankara’s engagement focuses on East and West Africa, often emphasizing education, infrastructure, and cultural diplomacy. India, by contrast, benefits from long-standing trade networks and a substantial Indian diaspora, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Both countries emphasize capacity-building—Türkiye through vocational training centers, and India via scholarships and technical institutions. Rather than competing, their overlapping interests present opportunities for trilateral cooperation in areas such as digital governance, agricultural innovation, and peacebuilding.
5. France’s Declining Influence and Collaboration with India
France’s retreat from parts of West Africa, spurred by anti-French sentiment and the erosion of Françafrique networks, has opened a geopolitical vacuum. As Paris seeks to redefine its partnerships, India appears a pragmatic ally. Unlike China, India is perceived as non-threatening and rooted in shared colonial legacies. Indo-French collaboration—especially in renewable energy, defense, and infrastructure—has found a new frontier in Africa. Joint projects in Mali, Djibouti, and the Indian Ocean showcase how both powers are aligning interests to stabilize the Sahel and build local capacities. These collaborations exemplify a multipolar, post-Western development model that resonates with the Global South’s aspirations (Source: ORF – Observer Research Foundation).
6. Maritime Trade Routes and the Role of African Ports
Africa’s Indian Ocean ports are critical to global supply chains, especially as geopolitical tensions threaten chokepoints like the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. India has deepened its naval cooperation with Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, building radar systems and offering maritime training. Investment in ports like Mombasa, Maputo, and Dar es Salaam ensures logistical stability and counters China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At the same time, Türkiye’s Kalkınma Yolu (Development Road)—linking the Persian Gulf to Europe—intersects with East African maritime routes, creating potential areas for joint infrastructure planning. Securing these trade arteries is not only about commerce but also food security, energy supply, and regional stability.
7. Conclusion: India’s Path to Global Power through Cooperation
India’s quest for global leadership increasingly depends on its ability to form equitable, long-term partnerships in the Global South. Africa serves as a key arena for this transformation. To fully realize its ambitions, India must balance regional assertiveness with global cooperation, prioritize development over confrontation, and sustain its reputation as a reliable partner. Synergies with Türkiye—another ascending Global South actor—can help redefine external engagement models. Rather than viewing each other as rivals, both can benefit from shared missions in peacekeeping, energy, and smart infrastructure. In a world moving toward multipolarity, the future will belong to those who collaborate rather than compete. Therefore, for developmental cooperation in Africa (particularly with Turkiye over Africa), India should maintain an image as a global power that promotes peace and stability.
Appendix: Map of Indian Ocean Ports in Africa
To explore the strategic importance of Indian Ocean ports across Africa, the following links provide detailed visual references:
· Map: Indian Ocean Major Ports – World Map
· Map: Indian Ocean Ports – Africa Ports
Lately, all eyes were on South Asia, however it is still important for the business community in Turkiye and around the World, to follow the developments in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, due to the importance for global trade and supply chains, as well as connectivity projects. Furthermore, India’s role for Africa and the Global South is an issue to follow closely for the future.
India’s commitment to the Global South is deeply rooted in its history and identity as a post-colonial democracy. Mahatma Gandhi’s formative experiences in South Africa laid the groundwork for India’s solidarity with other formerly colonized nations. As a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, India positioned itself as a bridge between the East and West during the Cold War. Today, it continues to advocate for equitable global governance by supporting the African Union’s permanent inclusion in the G20 and calling for reforms in the UN Security Council. India’s development partnerships, framed within South-South cooperation, emphasize capacity-building, technology transfer, and low-interest loans, offering alternatives to traditional donor models. These initiatives align with African nations’ aspirations for sovereignty, partnership, and economic modernization (Source: Africa Center for Strategic Studies). However, for developmental cooperation to continue, India should maintain an image as a global power that promotes peace and stability.
2. The Impact of Regional Conflicts on India's Global South Image
While India seeks to champion peace and development abroad, its regional disputes—particularly with China and Pakistan—pose challenges to its image as a stable power. Incidents such as the Galwan Valley clash and ongoing tensions in Kashmir attract global scrutiny and may create perceptions of India as a regional power embroiled in conflict. For African nations that prioritize internal stability and peaceful development, these regional frictions raise concerns. Although India avoids large-scale military interventions, its assertive posturing in the Indo-Pacific may contradict the pacifist principles it promotes. Mitigating these contradictions through diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation would enhance India’s soft power appeal in Africa, and inspire more confidence to potential partners from other countries.
3. India’s Engagement in Africa: Key Features
India’s Africa engagement is multi-dimensional, covering trade, capacity-building, and security cooperation. The India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) has institutionalized political dialogue, while the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Partnership fosters business-to-business and government-level ties. India is increasingly active in sectors such as ICT, healthcare, and renewable energy. Notably, its Pan-African e-Network project has brought tele-education and telemedicine to 47 African countries. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India’s "Vaccine Maitri" initiative earned goodwill by providing millions of doses to African states. Moreover, India’s maritime strategy includes strengthening naval cooperation and port infrastructure, particularly in East African states bordering the Indian Ocean. These multifaceted efforts demonstrate India’s commitment to being not just a donor, but a partner (Sources: The Diplomat, CII-EXIM Conclave Report).
4. Comparing India’s and Türkiye’s Africa Policies
India and Türkiye both frame their African policies around mutual development and diplomatic expansion, but their approaches reflect different historical and cultural linkages. Türkiye’s Africa outreach accelerated in the 2000s, marked by embassy openings, humanitarian aid through TİKA, and Turkish Airlines’ extensive African routes. Ankara’s engagement focuses on East and West Africa, often emphasizing education, infrastructure, and cultural diplomacy. India, by contrast, benefits from long-standing trade networks and a substantial Indian diaspora, particularly in Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Both countries emphasize capacity-building—Türkiye through vocational training centers, and India via scholarships and technical institutions. Rather than competing, their overlapping interests present opportunities for trilateral cooperation in areas such as digital governance, agricultural innovation, and peacebuilding.
5. France’s Declining Influence and Collaboration with India
France’s retreat from parts of West Africa, spurred by anti-French sentiment and the erosion of Françafrique networks, has opened a geopolitical vacuum. As Paris seeks to redefine its partnerships, India appears a pragmatic ally. Unlike China, India is perceived as non-threatening and rooted in shared colonial legacies. Indo-French collaboration—especially in renewable energy, defense, and infrastructure—has found a new frontier in Africa. Joint projects in Mali, Djibouti, and the Indian Ocean showcase how both powers are aligning interests to stabilize the Sahel and build local capacities. These collaborations exemplify a multipolar, post-Western development model that resonates with the Global South’s aspirations (Source: ORF – Observer Research Foundation).
6. Maritime Trade Routes and the Role of African Ports
Africa’s Indian Ocean ports are critical to global supply chains, especially as geopolitical tensions threaten chokepoints like the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. India has deepened its naval cooperation with Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, building radar systems and offering maritime training. Investment in ports like Mombasa, Maputo, and Dar es Salaam ensures logistical stability and counters China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At the same time, Türkiye’s Kalkınma Yolu (Development Road)—linking the Persian Gulf to Europe—intersects with East African maritime routes, creating potential areas for joint infrastructure planning. Securing these trade arteries is not only about commerce but also food security, energy supply, and regional stability.
7. Conclusion: India’s Path to Global Power through Cooperation
India’s quest for global leadership increasingly depends on its ability to form equitable, long-term partnerships in the Global South. Africa serves as a key arena for this transformation. To fully realize its ambitions, India must balance regional assertiveness with global cooperation, prioritize development over confrontation, and sustain its reputation as a reliable partner. Synergies with Türkiye—another ascending Global South actor—can help redefine external engagement models. Rather than viewing each other as rivals, both can benefit from shared missions in peacekeeping, energy, and smart infrastructure. In a world moving toward multipolarity, the future will belong to those who collaborate rather than compete. Therefore, for developmental cooperation in Africa (particularly with Turkiye over Africa), India should maintain an image as a global power that promotes peace and stability.
Appendix: Map of Indian Ocean Ports in Africa
To explore the strategic importance of Indian Ocean ports across Africa, the following links provide detailed visual references:
· Map: Indian Ocean Major Ports – World Map
· Map: Indian Ocean Ports – Africa Ports
