Africa will become a new market for Indian weapons, defense cooperation in Algeria’s visit to General Upendra Dwivedi

Africa is special for India
CDS General Anil Chauhan visited Algeria last year to strengthen strategic relationships, where he signed a historic defense cooperation agreement (MOU) with the Algerian People’s National Army Chief of Staff General Saeed Changriha. Algeria has huge hydrocarbons reserves, which are important for India’s energy security. Also, in view of regional instability and security threats, India and Algeria can help in sharing initiatives and intelligence against terrorism. In October 2024, President Draupadi went to Algeria on Murmu’s state visit. Africa matters so much for India, it becomes clear from this that the voice of the global South process was organized in the year 2023. During the G20 Summit, supported the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20. These are steps that do not limit his African diplomacy to transactions only. This year, a defense seminar was also organized in Alziers from 30 July to 1 August, in which Indian companies showcased UAV, Survelan Radar and Ortillery System.

India has improved diplomatic relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well as African countries. Strategic relationships are also being increased rapidly through the sea. For the first time in the same episode, the Navy also launched two campaigns. The first campaign was IOR i.e. Indian Ocean Ship Sagar and the second campaign was the Maritime Engagement of Africa India (Aikeyme). India and Africa preferred the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defense Force to organize Aikeyme. The practice was held from 13 to 18 April in Dar-e-Salam, Tanzania. The 6 -day practice was attended by Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa. The purpose of this practice was to impart training on different aspects of maritime security and promote international cooperation. Apart from this, the Indian Navy carried out its first PassEx exercise on the Algerian coast in August 2021 with the Algerian Navy. INS Tabar and ANS Aizadzer participated in it. In December 2024, INS Tushil made a stop at the Casablanca port of Morocco during his visit to India. This is another solid signal of India’s presence on the Atlantic-Bhumidhya Sea coast.

China’s increasing influence
China’s strategic interest in Africa became clear only by setting up its first overseas military base in Djibouti in 2017. This country is so important that the military base of the world’s two -fetched America and China is at this place. The special thing is that the country is on the banks of the Gulf of Red C and Aden. China is providing aircraft, ammunition, artillery guns, missiles, radars and rocket systems to African countries to make its impact. This was also revealed in SIPRI report. According to the report, Chinese weapons are being procured in 21 African countries between 2019 and 2023. In 10, the army of 7 African countries is using Chinese armored vehicles. The special thing is that Chinese Naval Guided missile Destroyer Maming, Freet Sanya and Supply Ship Vishan Hu visited Cape Town in South Africa in July 2023. During this time he stayed in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Kango.