Roadmap for Enhanced India–Eastern Africa Defence Cooperation

India’s vast trade influence in countries around the Indian Ocean was at its peak in the 16th–17th centuries. Many researchers credit this to India’s unmatched maritime capability during that time. The much-acclaimed ‘spice trade’ flourished particularly with countries in Eastern Africa, from Djibouti in the north to Mozambique in the south. The arrival of the East India Company in the 17th century diminished India’s maritime strength and impacted trade adversely. British rule over India in the 19th century then led to a sizeable number of Indians moving to East Africa for trade and as labour. This long-time connection was cemented by India’s support for East African countries in their freedom struggle. Sterling performances by Indian Armed Forces in UN Peacekeeping missions in Africa also helped burnish India’s image. Capitalising on this centuries-old people-to-people connection, India also ventured into cooperation in the field of defence and security.

This article traces the origins of India–East Africa defence cooperation with the aim to understand the basis for its foundation, its effectiveness, the challenges (past and future) and suggest ways to leverage mutual benefits from it. Points of importance are an understanding of the reasons why the centuries-old India–East Africa connect has not been utilised well by India and why India is a reluctant participant in the field of defence cooperation.

Analysing through the lens of ‘defence diplomacy’, the article will assess how this approach can effectively convert India’s soft power to the desired ‘smart power’. The article concludes with suggestions for India’s policymakers and executioners in this niche category of defence diplomacy.