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In a first, India will post its defence attaches in several countries, with a focus on Africa, aimed at strengthening strategic ties and military diplomacy amid China’s increasing efforts to expand its influence in African nations.
New Delhi will appoint new defence attaches in the African countries of Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, and Djibouti. This decision is in line with India’s priority to expand its strategic engagement with the continent, an Indian media agency reported. This will be the second time that India will post and attaché for Djibouti which holds maritime significance owing to being surrounded by the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Many African countries have already expressed keen interest in obtaining military platforms, equipment and hardware, as per the Indian media agency report. Furthermore, India will post defence attaches in Philippines, Armenia and Poland.
New Delhi is also planning to rationalise its teams of military officials in its embassy in Moscow and High Commission in London, UK, the media agency report said. A few of the defence attaches posted in these nations are set to be deployed in other regions as part of the rationalisation process.
As many as 16 Defence Attaches from the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force will assume their new positions soon. PTI reported. Over the past few years, India has established itself at the forefront, flagging concerns, challenges and aspirations of the Global South, or the developing nations, especially in the African continent.
India’s relationship with Africa saw an upward tick amid China’s consistent efforts to expand its influence in Africa. The induction of the 55-member nation African Union as a permanent member of the G-20 was seen as a major milestone in India’s presidency of thee G20 grouping of the 20 big economies of the world last year.
Last month, the External Affairs Minister of India, Subramaniam Jaishankar said that the countries of the Global South felt that they were last in the line to get the vaccine. They even felt at the time when India became G20 president that their concerns were not even on the agenda of the G20, Jaishankar said at the Nikkei Forum on the India-Japan Partnership in Tokyo.
He further stated that the Global South doesn’t consider it to be a coincidence that it was under the Indian presidency that African Union, which had long promised a seat in the G20, got a seat, So the Global South believes us,” he said.
India is also looking forward at further expand its defence ties with the Philippines against the increasing global concerns over China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea. These two countries have also been witnessing a boost in their relationship over the past few years. In January 2024, India sealed the 375 million USD with the Philippines for supplying three batteries of missiles, the Indian media agency reported.
India’s decision to appoint a defence attaché in Armenia came as the country in the Caucasus region and a former Soviet member shows keen interests in deepening ties with the Asian nation. In 2023, arms deal to supply military hardware including Pinaka MBRL (Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers) to Armenia was firmed up.
The decision to post a defence attaché in Poland, a member of the European Union is reflective of India’s desire to expand the two ways defence ties, the Indian media reported Last year, the EU posted a military attaché to its mission in India for the first time.
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