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Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
For India-South Africa maritime partnership to work, it needs to go beyond symbolism
Written by Graham Sherbut and Rajeev Ranjan Chaturvedy Late last month, India and South Africa signed two agreements on submarine cooperation during the 9th Joint Defence Committee meeting in Johannesburg. While the specifics of these deals have yet to be fully detailed, their symbolic weight is clear: They signal a potential deepening of maritime ties between influential Indian Ocean powers. Yet beneath the surface, the agreements also highlight striking asymmetries – in economic strength, strategic coherence, and political stability – that may shape, and potentially constrain, this budding 'Southern maritime partnership'. India and South Africa have long shared warm relations, rooted in anti-Apartheid solidarity and broader Global South cooperation. New Delhi and Pretoria have stood side-by-side in multilateral platforms like BRICS and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), calling for more equitable global governance and a greater role for the Global South in shaping international priorities. However, translating this solidarity into concrete security partnerships has remained elusive. The submarine cooperation agreements mark a bold shift, at least on paper, from rhetorical alignment to operational cooperation. Yet the underlying power dynamics between the two countries have become more pronounced over the past decade. India's economic and strategic ascent under Narendra Modi's BJP government contrasts sharply with South Africa's stagnation under the often cautious and fragmented leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC). Given these disparities, India is far better positioned to lead and shape this emerging bilateral partnership. India has emerged as a confident regional power with growing economic clout, a robust defence manufacturing sector, and a clear maritime strategy articulated through its 'MAHASAGAR' (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision. Its investments in indigenous naval production – including the locally-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and advanced destroyers like the Visakhapatnam class – and its expanding naval footprint across Africa's Indian Ocean rim reflect an ambition to become the principal security provider in the region. By contrast, South Africa has struggled to convert its diplomatic prestige into strategic muscle. Years of economic stagnation, underinvestment in defence, and a declining shipbuilding sector have weakened its maritime capabilities. While South Africa's geostrategic location — straddling the Indian and Atlantic Oceans — offers natural advantages, particularly as security concerns in the Suez Canal again elevate the importance of the Cape of Good Hope as a global shipping hub, its ability to act decisively on maritime security has been undermined by chronic budget constraints and domestic political distractions. For any ambitious defence partnership to succeed, sustained political will is essential. In India, PM Modi's administration has consistently prioritised defence modernisation and strategic partnerships as pillars of its rise as a global power. This has allowed India to allocate resources and maintain focus even amid electoral cycles. South Africa, however, faces a far more fragile political landscape. The ANC, long the dominant party, is now navigating an uncomfortable coalition with its long-time opponent, the Democratic Alliance, forcing leaders to focus inward on domestic stability rather than outward on strategic initiatives. At the same time, South Africa's foreign policy has often prioritised ideological solidarity and support for liberation movements over concrete security interests. Maintaining consistent attention and investment in submarine cooperation, or broader maritime security initiatives with India, will thus be an uphill battle. The temptation to retreat to symbolic gestures rather than substantive commitments may prove hard to resist in Pretoria. Domestic priorities such as economic recovery, addressing inequality, and stabilising coalition politics are likely to overshadow external security partnerships. In this environment, defence cooperation risks becoming a lower priority, easily sidelined in favour of more immediate social and political concerns. Unless Pretoria can reconcile its ideological commitments with practical security needs and sustain a long-term vision for its navy, it may find itself unable to match India's ambition, relegating South Africa to the role of a junior, more passive partner in this emerging maritime relationship. Beyond domestic constraints, India and South Africa fundamentally differ in how they perceive their maritime roles. India views the Indian Ocean as central to its economic and strategic future, an arena where it aspires to offer more equitable partnership choices and is increasingly seen as both a net security provider and a development partner to regional states. For South Africa, maritime security is important but not existential. While it recognises the need to secure the southern sea lanes and combat threats like illegal fishing and trafficking, its primary foreign policy energy remains focused on continental African issues and domestic socio-economic challenges. This divergence means that while India is likely to push for operational depth in this partnership, including joint exercises, coordinated patrols, and technology transfers, South Africa may struggle to match the ambition, both politically and materially. There is no doubt that the submarine agreements represent a promising new chapter in India–South Africa relations. Submarine cooperation is among the most sensitive areas of military engagement, demanding high levels of trust and interoperability. On paper, these deals hold the promise of jointly strengthening Indian Ocean security, boosting anti-piracy capabilities, and providing a partial counterweight to China's expanding naval reach. Yet for this potential to materialise, both countries must move beyond symbolic gestures. South Africa, in particular, will need to address its economic constraints and overcome internal political distractions to sustain meaningful participation. For India, the challenge lies in ensuring that its growing network of African partnerships translates into tangible outcomes rather than stalling at the level of declarations and high-profile visits. Without careful follow-through, this 'Southern maritime partnership' risks becoming more of an aspirational slogan rather than a true strategic reality. Sherbut is founder, Tantara Development Insights, and Chaturvedy is associate professor and head School of International Relations and Peace Studies, and founding coordinator of the Centre for Bay of Bengal Studies, Nalanda University
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Business Standard
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
India, Australia ties see enormous growth, diversification: Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said India and Australia have witnessed an "enormous deepening and diversification" of bilateral cooperation in the last five years, and reaffirmed commitment to look at areas such as critical minerals, cyber, technology, and space as further domains of collaboration. Addressing an event at the Australian High Commission here to mark the fifth anniversary of India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he also said the reason behind this "dosti" has actually been the "strong leadership that we have seen from both countries". Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, who is on a visit to India, was also present on the occasion. Jaishankar said "here we are -- not just with a transformed relationship", but actually marking five years of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "I think these have been five great years in our ties. Many more to come," he said. Earlier in the day, the Australian leader said Canberra's relationship with New Delhi is of the "highest priority" and that it is profoundly significant to Australia's national interest. Jaishankar said that in the last five years, "we have seen an enormous deepening and diversification of our cooperation". "So, I am here today to reaffirm, in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, a strong commitment to take this relationship to still greater heights, to look at areas like critical minerals, cyber, technology, space, sports as further domains of collaboration, and to work on mechanisms -- most of all the Quad, but in the East Asia Summit platforms, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the United Nations, even the trilateral grouping that we have with France," he said. India and Australia on Wednesday resolved to further boost their strategic ties with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailing Canberra's unequivocal support to New Delhi's resolute response to the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack. Singh held wide-ranging talks with his visiting Australian counterpart focusing on various aspects of bilateral defence cooperation as well as New Delhi's "extreme challenges" along its border with Pakistan. "...Today we saw one example of that as the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the strong sense of solidarity and support that we got when the Pahalgam terrorist attack happened, and I recall that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, despite being in the middle of a very intense election campaign, actually reached out and called Prime Minister Modi to express those sentiments," Jaishankar said in his address.
Al Etihad
22-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
UAE renews commitment to development, prosperity in Indian Ocean Region at Annual IORA Meeting
22 May 2025 12:56 ABU DHABI (WAM)The United Arab Emirates participated in the 24th Council of Ministers Meeting and the 27th Committee of Senior Officials meeting for the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which were both held virtually from May UAE delegation was led by Saeed Mubarak Al Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs at the UAE's Ministry of Foreign the meetings, which were chaired by Sri Lanka and held under the theme of "A Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generations", the UAE highlighted its commitment to achieving sustainability goals and effectively addressing global challenges, including climate Hajeri underlined the UAE's commitment to effective participation in multilateral organisations and to support the efforts of the IORA to harness the opportunities of the Indian Ocean in a sustainable manner for the comprehensive development of current and future generations. The UAE joined IORA in 1999 and chaired the Organisation between 2019 and 2021. IORA was established in 1997 to promote regional cooperation, prosperity, and growth in the Indian Ocean region through joint action in areas such as maritime security and safety, trade and investment, fisheries management, disaster risk management, tourism and cultural exchange, academic, scientific and technological cooperation, women's economic empowerment, and the 'blue' economy. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
India Gazette
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
India participates in 24th IORA Meeting, adopts Colombo Communique
New Delhi [India], May 21 (ANI): The 24th Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers, hosted virtually by Sri Lanka on Wednesday, brought together high-level representatives from across the region under the theme 'Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generation.' The Indian delegation was led by P Kumaran, Secretary (East), who represents India as the current vice-chair and a member of the IORA Troika. Member States adopted the 'Colombo Communique' and held wide-ranging discussions on matters of regional interest and strengthening IORA. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a press release, said, 'The 24th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM), hosted by the IORA Chair Sri Lanka, was held virtually on 21 May 2025 under the theme: 'Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generation.' P Kumaran, Secretary (East), led the Indian delegation at the 24th meeting of IORA COM.' It added, 'India is currently the Vice-Chair of IORA and part of the Troika. India will assume the Chairship of IORA for 2025-2027. The 24th COM meeting saw the participation of Ministers and High-level delegates from all 22 IORA Member States and IORA's 12 Dialogue Partners. During the meeting, the Member States held discussions on strengthening IORA, matters of regional interest and adopted the 'Colombo Communique'.' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said P Kumaran reaffirmed India's strong commitment to upholding the Indian Ocean Region's vision. In a post on X, Jaiswal said, 'Secretary (East) P Kumaran represented India at the 24th IORA Council of Ministers meeting and reaffirmed India's strong commitment to upholding our vision of the Indian Ocean Region. He reiterated that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, including state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, poses a serious threat to peace, security and development of the region, and must be unequivocally condemned.' P Kumaran, in his statement, underscored India's commitment to the well-being and progress of nations of the Indian Ocean, in alignment with India's Vision of the Indian Ocean Region. 'He noted that cooperation, collaboration and concerted efforts among Member States, are essential to reach convergence on issues of common interest in the Indian Ocean Region. Secretary (East) affirmed that terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations, whether state-sponsored or carried out by individuals, poses a serious threat to peace, security, and development of the region, and must be unequivocally condemned,' the MEA added. (ANI)
India.com
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
In Absurd Act, Pakistan Brings Up Indus River Issue At UNSC Amid Maritime Security Debate
United Nations: While the Security Council was debating maritime security and expressing concern over terrorism on the seas, Pakistan tried to bring up a river issue, the Indus water. That was in keeping with Islamabad's total obsession with matters relating to India, regardless of the topic of discussion, which often makes for a theatre of the absurd. Without directly naming India but referring to it as 'one major country', Pakistan's Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said it 'displayed a concerning propensity to usurp and weaponise shared natural resources -- including transboundary rivers -- in flagrant breach of treaty obligations and the principles of good neighbourliness'. After the terrorist group, The Resistance Front, based in and backed by Pakistan, massacred 26 people in Pahalgam last month, India put the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. Smarting under the action, Ahmad said India was 'leveraging geography' to "the detriment of the lower riparian state that is Pakistan'. By avoiding mentioning by name, and using innuendos, he tried to avoid India using the right of reply to expose the assertions. India's Permanent Representative P. Harish, who spoke in the session, contemptuously ignored it. Ahmad pouted over Pakistan's exclusion from the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), a 23-member group of nations that, besides cooperating on a range of maritime issues, also take a strong stand against terrorism. The 'coercive diplomacy' of 'the one major country' has led to 'the systematic exclusion of neighbouring states from regional maritime security frameworks, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association', he griped. India took the initiative to found the IORA and objects to Pakistan's membership because of its terrorism links. As Pakistan is unable to afford an aircraft carrier and is dependent on the arms alms of China and Turkey, Ahmad also complained about what he called the 'aggressive naval expansion' by the 'one major country'.
