India-Africa partnership in the Indo-Pacific: Significance for the Global South

Abstract

This study examines the evolving India-Africa partnership within the Indo-Pacific framework and assesses its significance for the Global South in a context of intensifying geopolitical competition. It analyzes the ways in which India and African countries cooperate in areas such as trade, maritime security, and institutional development, and evaluates whether this partnership contributes to enhancing the collective agency of the Global South and fostering a more inclusive and multipolar regional order. Anchored in liberal institutionalist theory, the article conceptualizes the India-Africa partnership as a form of South-South cooperation that prioritizes institutions, shared norms, and functional collaboration rather than hegemonic ambitions or alliance-based strategies. Using qualitative analysis and trade data covering the period from 2014 to 2024, the study highlights Africa's growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific, driven by its control over critical sea lanes, increasing geopolitical relevance, and expanding role in maritime governance. The findings indicate Africa's rising participation in Indo-Pacific trade and security dynamics, alongside China's substantial economic presence on the continent and India's comparatively distinctive approach. India's engagement emphasizes capacity building, maritime security cooperation, education, digital connectivity, and development partnerships. Ongoing anti-piracy operations, defense training programs, and institutional linkages with African coastal states underscore India's role as both a security provider and a development partner. The study concludes that the India-Africa partnership strengthens the Global South's collective influence by offering an alternative to hierarchical and dependency-oriented engagement models.