Strategic Convergences and Competitive Multilateralism: India-Africa in the Age of Global Rebalancing

Abstract

The contemporary phase of India-Africa relations is characterised by the dual processes of strategic convergence and competitive multilateralism, as both India and Africa recalibrate their external alignments in an era defined by global power diffusion, shifting, and rebalancing. India’s renewed engagement with Africa goes beyond historical solidarity, shifting towards a pragmatic mix of economic cooperation, capacity building, and geostrategic alignment, particularly in response to China’s assertive presence. Modi’s July 2025 visit to three African nations (Namibia, Ghana, and Trinidad & Tobago) marks a renewed push in India’s engagement with the continent, signalling an assertive diplomatic recalibration aimed at countering Chinese dominance, expanding economic footprints, and deepening South-South cooperation. The visit underscores Africa’s rising importance in India’s foreign policy matrix, not just as a trade and energy partner, but also as a diplomatic and strategic constituency critical to India’s global ambitions. This article examines the strategic logic underpinning India-Africa relations by placing them within a changing multilateral architecture that includes the G20, BRICS+, the AfCFTA, and the Indo-Pacific construct. It contends that India’s Africa policy embodies a multi-vector approach focused on development diplomacy, maritime security cooperation, and norm entrepreneurship within a contested global order. Through an analysis of institutional, political, and economic dimensions, this study highlights how India-Africa ties are developing amid escalating geopolitical rivalries and systemic shifts.