The Indian Ocean has always been central to Bharat’s security and prosperity, but its western shores are drawing increasing attention. Trade lanes, energy routes, undersea cables, fisheries and climate pressures are all pulling the African coastline and Indian Ocean islands into a tighter relationship with Bharat’s strategic interests. As the region becomes busier, more contested and more exposed to environmental stress; the convergence between Bharat and Africa is emerging as one of the most important, yet under-examined stories in the broader Indo-Pacific.
Most conversations concerning Bharat’s engagement with Africa have focused on politics, development cooperation and trade. The next phase of the relationship is being shaped by water. Geography makes this obvious. The distance between Kochi and the East African coast is shorter than the distance between Kochi and parts of Southeast Asia. Centuries of commerce, migration and cultural exchange have established a foundation that modern diplomacy is only beginning to rebuild in a structured way. Shared concerns concerning security, economic resilience and climate impacts are pushing Bharat and African states toward more practical, maritime-centred partnerships.
Bharat’s own maritime vision has evolved noticeably over the past decade. The Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative launched in 2015 set out the simple idea that prosperity and safety are inseparable within the Indian Ocean. The framework recognises that development, coastal stability, secure waters and strong institutions reinforce one another. Complemented by the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) introduced in 2019, IPOI pulls together strands of maritime security, disaster response, technology cooperation, ecology and capacity-building. Bharat’s approach consistently focuses long-term stability and regionally owned development rather than big military postures.
A similar mindset has been adopted on the African side of the ocean where states from the Horn to the Mozambique Channel face many of the same pressures. The Western Indian Ocean is rich in resources, busy with shipping and increasingly exposed to unpredictable weather. Coastal communities depend heavily on fisheries. Port congestion and infrastructure gaps slow trade. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing drains national revenues, and maritime crime in the northern Mozambique Channel and the Somali basin is a recurring concern. These issues are manageable, but not by any one country alone.
Bharat is an attractive partner for African states because of it experience managing a long coastline, strong naval professionalism and a habit of working through training, knowledge-sharing and civilian maritime institutions–not only military assets. This pragmatic approach to cooperation has built trust from Mauritius and the Seychelles to Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Madagascar and the Comoros.
Cooperation has taken real shape over the past decade. Bharat has supported coastal radar networks in island states, trained African naval and coastguard officers, and increased ship visits and joint exercises. Humanitarian missions after cyclones, floods and coastal disasters provide a quiet, but convincing demonstration of Bharat’s reliability. Lines of credit have helped improve ports and waterways. Maritime academies and technical colleges have welcomed cohorts of African students, and digital platforms to monitor vessels and strengthen coastal safety are appearing in pilot form.
None of this is dramatic, but steadily growing at a pace that suits both sides. The question now is where Bharat and Africa can take this partnership next. Several areas stand out.
The first is maritime safety and surveillance. As shipping grows denser, African coastal states need reliable ways to monitor their waters and enforce laws. Bharat’s information-sharing systems and training centres provide practical models that can be adapted without heavy costs or outside control.
Second is the blue economy. Improved fisheries management, cleaner and more efficient ports, and skills training for coastal youth lifts incomes and reduces environmental stress. Bharat has significant experience modernising port logistics and is well positioned to work with African partners on approaches that match local needs.
A third area is climate resilience. Storm surges, coastal erosion and unpredictable weather patterns are creating new challenges along both coasts of the Indian Ocean. Joint early-warning systems, coastal protection projects and green-port planning can help build resilience before crises escalate.
The fourth areas for deeper maritime engagement is digital public infrastructure. Bharat’s experience building low-cost, high-trust digital systems is relevant beyond land-based governance. African coastal states are experimenting with digital registries, small-vessel identification systems and maritime data platforms. Partnerships based on open-source tools and local ownership can be extremely powerful.
None of these areas rely on grand strategies. All depend on the slow, careful strengthening of institutions and capabilities. Bharat specialises in these approaches that African partners are increasingly prioritizing.
As the Indian Ocean changes, the relationship between Bharat and Africa is experiencing deeper cooperation fashioned by the simple realities of geography, economics and climate. The challenge is not whether the partnership can grow, but how to shape it in ways that remain practical, respectful and grounded in the everyday needs of coastal societies.
If Bharat and African states can continue building trust and capacity at sea, they will help stabilise one of the world’s most important maritime regions. As the partnership deepens, it will quietly shape the choices—and the opportunities—for the wider community of nations that share the Indian Ocean’s future.
– Christopher Burke
The author is a senior advisor at WMC Africa, a communications and advisory agency located in Kampala, Uganda. With over 30 years of experience, he has worked extensively on social, political and economic development issues focused on governance, environmental issues, policy formulation, communications, advocacy, extractives, conflict transformation, international relations and peace-building in Asia and Africa.
(Featured Image Source: The Diplomatist)
