In Geopolitics Today - Friday, December 17th
Turkey Hosts 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit and India Bolsters Infrastructure on Strategic Islands
Turkey Hosts 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit
The 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit began with a meeting of high-level government officials in Istanbul. The summit is scheduled to launch a new stage in Turkey’s relations with African partners. The two-day summit agenda includes a review of existing partnerships as well as the drafting of new framework for the partnership process in the years ahead. The Summit is expected to adopt a plan for concrete actions to be implemented jointly by Turkey, the African Union (AU) and its member States.
The action plan to be adopted will include commitments to strengthening collaboration on health, peace, security, governance and justice, human development and sustainable growth. The summit will see closer cooperation between Turkey and AU member states conduct capacity building trainings, judicial cooperation, support against terrorist offences, as well as security cooperation agreements. The Summit will also see agreements concluded on the side-lines. Nigeria, for example, has already held discussions with Turkish officials before the Summit began in which the two agreed on strengthening bilateral defence capacities. Similarly, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the side-lines of the Summit, though there were few signs that the two agreed on anything concrete.
Turkey's footprint in Africa has grown rapidly with bilateral trade volume between Turkey and ĀU member states rising from $5.4bn in 2003 to $25.3bn in 2020. Over the same period, Turkish foreign direct investment in the African continent grew from $100m to $6.5bn, with Turkish companies becoming an increasingly common sight. Turkish economic activity here largely revolves around trade and investments in construction, steel, textiles, consumer electronics and household goods. Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, has acknowledged that Ankara's approach to its relations with Africa is one that is “strategic” and aimed at the “long term,” and so Ankara is keen to gradually develop deep ties with African countries, with trade and security deals taking up a central role in this approach.
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India Bolsters Infrastructure on Strategic Islands
The Indian Ocean is re-emerging as a critical theatre for strategic competition. In particular, the critically-situated Andaman and Nicobar Islands could significantly alter the maritime dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Their primary benefit today for India lies in furthering maritime awareness and maintaining a naval advantage. But as China expands its presence in the region and becomes a critical partner to other coastal states in South Asia, India must position itself in accordance with this new reality. Officials in New Delhi have therefore begun to formulate a new maritime approach to retain India’s prominence in the region.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have long been neglected in Delhi’s list of strategic and political priorities. However, now there appears more enthusiasm in New Delhi for maritime security as China’s growing naval capabilities make officials in India nervous. The islands have seen the installation of advanced sensors and SMS dissemination systems, automated weather states, operation centres, and other military-minded facilities in the last five years. These developments show how New Delhi is fortifying its southern frontier at sea, and such moves are set to continue across the region as increased competition here provides a theatre of opportunity for India.
While India has long neglected its naval priorities, the maritime domain provides an opportunity for the country to establish itself as a leading regional actor. To enhance the connectivity and prominence of the islands, New Delhi has sought to enter into international partnerships with regional players. This has culminated in indications that the Thai government plans to connect its Ranong port with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Similarly, India has established a special task force jointly with Indonesia which promises to develop connectivity between the port of Sabang and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. These maritime advantages will help India balance against a rising and assertive China.
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