India losing geostrategic ground to China

China’s top-level Africa forum has come to a close, but India’s own triennial summit with Africa is on the near horizon. Like China, India’s trade with Africa has grown in leaps and bounds over the last decade. But all too often, New Delhi’s attention on Africa has tended to fade after official visits.

This time, however, India should stay tuned. Africa can no longer be viewed as intermittent and peripheral interest. Instead, the continent should be seen as part and parcel of New Delhi’s challenge of regaining lost geostrategic ground from Beijing’s expansionist endeavours. China’s Belt and Road Initiative along with its growing military activities across the Indian Ocean are already serving to redefine India’s own relationship with Africa.

DIIS senior researcher Luke Patey arguesin a new article for the Indian media outlet The Wire (co-published by the Royal African Society’s African Arguments), that China’s economic influence and military reach in the Indian Ocean should push decisionmakers in New Delhi to pay closer attention to Africa.