G20 Summit: Modi works geostrategic heft; African Union joins coveted group

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, September 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled India’s high stakes in Africa by inducting the African Union into G20. The move has come at a time when Africa is emerging as a fierce hotspot for rivalry between the former colonial European powers and Russia and China on the other side.

“Honoured to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 Family. This will strengthen the G20 and also strengthen the voice of the Global South,” said Modi, while welcoming the heads of the nations in the inaugural session of the G20 Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

India had already invited Egypt in the G20 during the Indian presidency. India and Egypt has strategic ties, and Modi’s visit to Cairo recently had seen major strategic push by the two countries to also deepen defence cooperation. Incidentally, Africa is emerging as a big market for India for the defence goods.

India had hosted African Union during the DefExpo at Gandhinagar also. While China has a presence of scale in Africa with Belt and Road Initiative carrying the flag of Beijing in the continent, Russia had recently hosted a conclave with the African Union ahead of the coup in Niger, which has set off popular uprising against the presence of the French military.

“I welcome the African Union’s entry into the G20 as full member. This membership, for which we have long been advocating, will provide a propitious framework for amplifying advocacy in favor of the Continent and its effective contribution to meeting global challenges,” said Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of African Union in a post on X.

While India has age-old ties with Africa, with several of the countries relating to Mahatma Gandhi’s presence in South Africa during the formative years of his political career, New Delhi is seen to be finally catching up with China in offering an economic and defence template to the continent for mutual benefits. India’s trade with sub-saharan Agrican nations stood at over $42 billion, growing at a rate of over 17 per cent.

India and several of the African nations have set ambitious bilateral trade target. India also has a comprehensive economic partnership pact with Mauritius. Some of the foreign affairs commentators have argued that India to claim the status of being a legitimate voice of Global South should play a key role in the resolutions of conflicts such as the one unfolding in Niger.     

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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