Connecting to the diaspora
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tour which began on July 2 of two African countries, a Caribbean state and two of the leading South American countries was planned imaginatively. The trip will conclude on July 9. Its purpose is to reinvigorate the Indian connection with Ghana and Namibia. With the leadership of both these countries Indian leaders enjoyed a close connection during the heady days of decolonization. India was truly looked up to then in what was, in those years called the underdeveloped world, and, is now covered under the term global south.
The Caribbean country, Trinidad and Tobago, has a very large and politically important Indian diaspora consisting of the descendants of indentured Indian labour. Indeed, the country’s Prime Minister is Kamla Persad-Bissessar, whose ancestors once toiled in the cane and cocoa fields belonging to British planters in a system that was no better than slavery. In South America, Modi will visit its two most important states, Argentina and Brazil. India’s relations with both countries are growing and the potential to move them on an upward trajectory is substantial. In Brazil, Modi will also attend the BRICS summit and on its conclusion, he will be on a state visit.
It is customary for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to brief the media on the programme and objectives of a Prime Minister’s visit. It was customary for the Secretary in-charge of the country which Prime Minister was visiting to do the briefing. It is good that the traditional custom was followed in the MEA briefing on this occasion and all three Secretaries—Dammu Ravi, Secretary (Economic Relations) who deals with the African countries on Modi’s visit schedule as well as with BRICS, Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) who overseas India’s ties with the Caribbean states, and S Kumaran Secretary (East) who is responsible for India’s relations with South America---did the briefings. They all did a very good job and clearly spelt out what India expected from this important and multi-dimensional foreign trip undertaken by Modi.
In his words, on Modi’s visit to Ghana, Dammu Ravi rightly observed “India’s relations with Ghana are historical. In the seven decades of a relationship, it has evolved to [be] multi-faceted. We took up the cause of Ghana in the UN much before it won independence in 1957, and we have maintained a close relationship in the multilateral fora on various issues that are important for the global South”. He also said that the main focus of discussions will be on economic ties but defence ties are also on the agenda. Ghana is keen to cooperate with India in agriculture and health. For India, collaboration in the area of critical minerals is important. Ghana is a major West African state and India needs to pay greater attention to this relationship.
While returning from Brazil to India, Modi will visit Namibia. India played a role in Namibia’s independence. As Dammu Ravi noted “Prime Minister will pay homage to Dr. Sam Nujoma. There will be delegation-level talks, one-on-one discussions, and he will also address the Parliament. The substance of the relationship is again, as you know, that India and Namibia have a very strong relationship for a very long time. The historical context … the independence struggle … we recognized Namibia long before it got independence. We took up its cause in the UNGA in 1946, and also allowed to set up a diplomatic mission in India in 1986, even before it got independence in 1990”. Namibia has resources which India needs. This is especially in the area of “uranium, copper, cobalt, rare earths in large numbers, lithium, graphite, tantalum”.
Modi has always placed great emphasis on developing comprehensive links between the diaspora and India. As India has gathered strength through the decades the diaspora has begun to look towards India. This is also where it is influential in political life as in Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Modi’s visit will make India’s bonds with the diaspora there, including its political leadership, stronger. India has also always helped in skills development in these countries but it has to consider new ways of nourishing existing bonds because the younger generations there are becoming universalist in their orientations.
India needs to devote more attention to foster ties with both Argentina and Brazil. Kumaran rightly observed in respect of India-Argentina ties in the context of Modi’s visit “The visit is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership and open new avenues of cooperation. These include trade and investment, health and pharmaceuticals, defense and security infrastructure, mining and mineral resources, agriculture and food security, green energy, ICT, digital innovation, disaster management, S&T, education and people-to-people linkages”.
And, on the potential of relations with Brazil he stated, “The state visit will provide an opportunity to review the entire gamut of our partnership, including trade and investments, oil and gas, renewable energy, mining and critical minerals, defense and security, agriculture and livestock, healthcare and traditional medicine, tourism, space, science and technology, DPI, and also sports and people-to-people relations in general. Both leaders will also be discussing during their talks global issues of mutual interest”. It is a propitious time for India to hasten the pace and scope of its cooperation with both these countries.
The Brazil visit will see Modi take part in the BRICS summit at a crucial time in global politics. The organisation has expanded to ten countries, but truth be told, China is by far the largest country of the organisation. The BRICS summit needs a detailed analysis which will follow in the next column.
