In this episode, Happymon Jacob interviews ambassador Rajiv Bhatia about India’s engagement with Africa and the nature of the strategic challenge from increasing Chinese presence and strategic depth in the continent. He highlights China’s economic, political and strategic interests in Africa, given its natural resources, numerical heft in the international fora, and significance for China’s rise as a global power.
Bhatia, who is a distinguished fellow at the Gateway House, argues that while India is seen as a benign power, the reality of Chinese power is becoming increasingly apparent. He also acknowledges that India has made significant gains in the last decade and a half but warns that its grip on Africa has gotten looser in the past three-four years due to COVID-19, the Galwan and Ukraine crises. He stresses that it is crucial to recognise that India’s Indo-Pacific concept spans the Indian Ocean, including Africa’s East Coast in the Western Indian Ocean and the African continent.