India–Africa Defence Diplomacy Amid COVID-19

The abrupt and upsetting change caused by the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the weakness of the international system and put India’s defence diplomacy with Africa to the test. The pandemic caused significant strain on Africa’s frail and fledgling healthcare system and adversely affected many facets of its public life. Meanwhile, India’s innovativeness and dynamism in dealing with the African continent during the pandemic opened the door to expand its contribution to the security of Africa. Rapid-action teams made up of medical specialists were sent by the Indian Navy as part of Mission Sagar to aid various countries in the Indian Ocean Littoral States. Later, India also reinforced its status as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’ by supplying India-made vaccines to several African countries. Additionally, Indian Navy performed several capacity-building exercises. Thus, while India’s health diplomacy strengthened its soft-power projection in Africa, its uninterrupted defence diplomacy helped to project the country as a critical player in the continent