5 Nations, 8 Days: PM Modi’s Tour For Global South Outreach

It was reminiscent of New Delhi’s contributions towards decolonisation and its focus on sharing its successes to improve the lifestyle of commoners, unlike China, which has often hit the headlines for its predatory practices. India’s G20 Presidency was, therefore, a reason for celebration for the Global South. 

Yet, over the last year and a half, India’s leaders have made few visits to key countries of what is known as the Global South. In this context, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing eight-day visit to countries in South America and Africa can put the vigour back in his Global South initiative.

India's Global South Approach Vs China's Initiative

His ongoing five-nation tour will be a milestone in India’s modern diplomatic journey. While China has been pushing countries towards debt, leading to asset acquisition, it is a fact that Beijing, buoyed by its economic prowess, can today bring to the table what even developed Europe and the US are unable to offer. 

The developing world and emerging economies, some of which aim to position themselves as middle powers, are seeking meaningful partnerships instead of colonial or neocolonial strategies. That's where India can enter, because it has always believed in an ethos of equal rights for all countries — big or small.

The choice of countries for the PM’s Global South outreach can yield long-term benefits, as each has its unique advantage that India can harness while facilitating their growth. 

Healthcare, IT, digital public infrastructure, startups, agricultural practices, and institutes of higher learning like the IITs and defence hardware — suitable for countries of the Global South — are among India’s strengths that it is offering to the entire Global South.

Ghana, Namibia & Need For A Francophone Africa Policy

In Africa, Ghana and Namibia are politically and economically stable countries with huge natural resources. Ghana has been a supplier of gold to India, while Indian diamond companies have tapped Namibia. Namibia also offers huge opportunities in critical minerals, fossil fuels, and uranium.

Indian state-run and private companies that are active in English-speaking Africa, including Ghana, need to think out of the box, adopt bold policies, and invest adequately to tap the opportunities. 

Following PM Modi’s visit to Africa and Latin America, Indian industry needs to come out of its comfort zone and explore these investment opportunities. It is no longer China that has set its eyes on Africa, but also Turkey and the UAE that want to harness the resources of the continent. And competition will continue to grow over the next decade.

While India’s comfort with English-speaking Africa and North Africa is evident, what New Delhi now needs is a policy for Francophone Africa. Leadership-level visits to Francophone Africa have been few over the decades, and despite having diplomatic missions in many French-speaking African states, India’s economic and political visibility in these countries is limited. 

Francophone Africa is sitting on natural resources that can power India’s growth story for decades. And New Delhi can help build the capacity of these states in a benevolent manner.

While harnessing economic potential and expanding development-oriented partnerships, what cannot be missed is India’s political relations with several African states, including Ghana and Namibia, rooted in history and anti-colonial struggles.

Several African states — English or otherwise — drew inspiration from India's freedom struggle, something that was reflected in PM Modi’s speech in Ghana's Parliament. Quoting legendary Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah, who once said: “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart”, and the one who laid great stress on the long-term impact of building democratic institutions, the PM underscored the importance of nurturing democratic values. 

He also highlighted pressing global challenges like climate change, terrorism, pandemics, and cyber threats, and called for a collective Global South voice in global governance. In this context, he underlined the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency.

Kinship With South America

The Indian PM carried the same message of kinship when he addressed the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, a country with a huge Indian-origin population. He congratulated T&T on its successful democratic journey and noted that India was privileged to stand in solidarity with the people of T&T on their path to freedom.

He further emphasised that the deep-rooted bonds between the two countries as modern nations have grown in strength over time. Underlining the close ties between the two democracies, aptly reflected in the Speaker’s chair gifted by India, the PM called for further enhancement of bilateral parliamentary exchanges. 

The landmark visit — the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM in 26 years — was imbued with profound significance, as it coincided with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants to Trinidad and Tobago in 1845.