New Delhi: For the first time, India will deploy defense attachés to several countries, including Ethiopia, Mozambique, Cote d’Ivoire, the Philippines, Armenia and Poland, as part of its broader policy initiative to expand strategic ties with key regions, a move that comes amid renewed geopolitical rivalries.
New Delhi is also appointing a new defense attaché to the tiny African nation of Djibouti that serves as an important sea gateway around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and is considered a valuable site for military bases, people familiar with the matter said. Wednesday.
The new defense attaché in Djibouti will be the second to hold the post in the island nation.
New Delhi is also said to be planning to streamline the strength of its teams of military officials at its embassy in Moscow and the high commission in London.
Some of the defense attachés posted in these two countries are to be deployed elsewhere as part of the rationalization process that took into account various aspects of New Delhi’s foreign policy priorities and optimal utilization of manpower.
The decision to appoint defense attachés to the African countries of Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ivory Coast is in sync with New Delhi’s priority to expand its strategic engagement with the African continent, one of the people cited above said.
Several African countries have already expressed strong interest in procuring Indian military platforms, equipment and hardware.
In recent years, India has positioned itself as a leading voice, highlighting the concerns, challenges and aspirations of the Global South or developing countries, particularly the African continent.
India’s ties with the African continent have grown significantly amid China’s persistent efforts to expand its influence in African countries.
The inclusion of the 55-nation African Union as a permanent member of the G20 was seen as important milestones of India’s chairmanship of the group of 20 major economies of the world in 2023.
India is also considering further expanding defense ties with the Philippines amid growing global concerns over China’s growing military capabilities in the South China Sea.
Defense and strategic ties between India and the Philippines have been on the rise in recent years.
In January 2022, India signed a US$375 million deal with the Philippines to supply three batteries for the missile.
Deliveries of the missiles to the Southeast Asian country are set to begin soon, one of the people cited above said.
The decision to appoint a defense attache to Armenia comes as the country in the Caucasus region shows deep interest in strengthening its defense ties with India.
Last year, an arms deal was signed to supply Indian military hardware, including multiple-barreled missile launchers, to Armenia.
The agreement came amid the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.
India’s decision to appoint a defense attache to Poland, which is a member of the European Union, is also considered significant.
It reflects a desire to expand two-way defense ties, the people cited above said.
Last year, the European Union (EU) for the first time posted a military attache to its mission in India.
A total of 16 defense attachés from the Indian Army, Navy and Indian Air Force will soon take up their new posts, the people cited above said.
(Publish April 10, 2024, 4:55 p.m IST)