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Visit our website for other free publication downloads http://www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil/ To rate this publication click here. STRATEGIC STUDIES INSTITUTE The Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) is part of the U.S. Army War College and is the strategic-level study agent for issues related to national security and military strategy with emphasis on geostrate- gic analysis. The mission of SSI is to use independent analysis to conduct strategic studies that develop policy recommendations on: • Strategy, planning, and policy for joint and combined employment of military forces; • Regional strategic appraisals; • The nature of land warfare; • Matters affecting the Army’s future; • The concepts, philosophy, and theory of strategy; and • Other issues of importance to the leadership of the Army. Studies produced by civilian and military analysts concern topics having strategic implications for the Army, the Department of De- fense, and the larger national security community. In addition to its studies, SSI publishes special reports on topics of special or immediate interest. These include edited proceedings of conferences and topically-oriented roundtables, expanded trip re- ports, and quick-reaction responses to senior Army leaders. The Institute provides a valuable analytical capability within the Army to address strategic and other issues in support of Army par- ticipation in national security policy formulation. ERAP- SSI Monograph INDIA IN AFRICA: IMPLICATIONS OF AN EMERGING POWER FOR AFRICOM AND U.S. STRATEGY J. Peter Pham March 2011 The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the De- partment of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Authors of Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) publica- tions enjoy full academic freedom, provided they do not disclose classified information, jeopardize operations security, or mis- represent official U.S. policy. Such academic freedom empowers them to offer new and sometimes controversial perspectives in the interest of furthering debate on key issues. This monograph is cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. ***** This publication is subject to Title 17, United States Code, Sec- tions 101 and 105. It is in the public domain and may not be copy- righted. ***** Comments pertaining to this report are invited and should be forwarded to: Director, Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, 122 Forbes Ave, Carlisle, PA 17013-5244. ***** All Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) publications may be downloaded free of charge from the SSI website. Hard copies of this report may also be obtained free of charge while supplies last by placing an order on the SSI website. The SSI website address is: www.StrategicStudiesInstitute.army.mil. ***** The Strategic Studies Institute publishes a monthly e-mail newsletter to update the national security community on the re- search of our analysts, recent and forthcoming publications, and upcoming conferences sponsored by the Institute. Each newslet- ter also provides a strategic commentary by one of our research analysts. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, please subscribe on the SSI website at www.StrategicStudiesInstitute. army.mil/newsletter/. ISBN 1-58487-483-X ii FOREWORD Several trends make this monograph topic impor- tant. First, Africa, long marginalized in international relations, has emerged today as a strategically, dip- lomatically, and economically vital component in the global balance of the 21st century, with the major powers seeking access to the continent’s resources and forging ties with African governments and peoples. The establishment of the United States Africa Com- mand (AFRICOM) is but one indication of America’s growing network of political, economic, and security commitments in Africa. Second, the United States is also actively seeking to build a strong strategic part- nership with India, a country whose rapid economic growth, geopolitical position, and proven commit- ment to democracy make it an especially attractive ally not just in South Asia, but more broadly. Third, as it continues its rise to global power status, India is cul- tivating its own expanding set of relations across the African continent—a phenomenon that is nowhere as well known as the increasing penetration there of the People’s Republic of China. In this monograph, Dr. J. Peter Pham provides a framework for understanding both India’s approach to Africa, especially in the military and security sector, and the responses of Africans to it. He also argues that the United States should engage India in Africa, both as an end in itself and within the context of broader U.S.-India ties. What emerges from this analysis is a call to both greater mutual awareness and concrete bilateral cooperation that would not only positively iii benefit the two countries, but also redound to the ad- vantage of their African allies. DOUGLAS C. LOVELACE, JR. Director Strategic Studies Institute iv ABOUT THE AUTHOR J. PETER PHAM is Director of the Michael S. Ansari Africa Center at the Atlantic Council of the United States. In addition, Dr. Pham holds an aca- demic appointment as tenured Associate Professor of Justice Studies, Political Science, and African Studies at James Madison University, and regularly lectures at the Foreign Service Institute, the Joint Special Op- erations University, the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, and other U.S. Government professional educational institutions. Dr. Pham has testified before the U.S. Congress on a number of oc- casions and conducted briefings or consulted for U.S. and foreign governments as well as private firms. In May 2008, at the invitation of General William E. “Kip” Ward, he gave the keynote address at the first Senior Leaders Conference of the United States Af- rica Command (AFRICOM) in Mainz, Germany. He currently serves on AFRICOM’s Senior Advisory Group. Dr. Pham is the incumbent Vice President of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA), an academic organization chaired by Professor Bernard Lewis, which represents over 1,000 scholars of Middle Eastern and African Stud- ies at more than 300 colleges and universities in the United States and overseas. He is also Editor-in-Chief of ASMEA’s flagship Journal of the Middle East and Africa. A specialist on U.S. foreign and defense policy, African politics and security, and terrorism and politi- cal violence, Dr. Pham is the author of over 300 essays and reviews. He is the author, editor, or translator of over a dozen books and regularly appears in numer- ous national and international media outlets. v SUMMARY The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)—whose mission, “in concert with other U.S. government agencies and international partners,” is to conduct “sustained security engagement through military-to- military programs, military-sponsored activities, and other military operations as directed to promote a stable and secure African environment”1—is not alone in recognizing the strategic importance of Africa. This continent, in fact, has increasingly attracted significant attention from the major powers. While the extensive network of economic, political, and military ties that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has constructed across Africa in recent years, is relatively well known, India’s own rapidly expanding network of connec- tions to the continent have gone largely unexamined. In fact, Indo-African ties are of long standing, aris- ing from a unique historical experience that stretches from pre-colonial trade patterns through modern In- dia’s generous financial and diplomatic support for African liberation movements in the late 20th century. Motivating the country’s current activities in Africa is its quests for resources, business opportunities, diplo- matic influence, and security. Of particular note is the significant investment that India has made in African security, reflected in both support for and participa- tion in United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, and providing a selective security umbrella today and training for some of the African military leaders of to- morrow. What is the impact of all this on Africa? First, there is no doubt that Africa stands to benefit from the ad- dition of India to the list of countries seeking access to vii the continent’s natural resources and markets, as well as political and strategic partnerships with African states. Second, in general it could be said that India’s approach, with its emphasis not just on trade, but also training and infrastructure development, benefits Af- ricans. Third, India’s long-standing commitment to secularism, pluralism, and democracy, and the les- sons it learned while freeing itself from the constraints imposed by its longtime oppressively low rate of eco- nomic growth, are precisely what many African states ought to emulate. Fourth, overall, the burgeoning Indian-African relationship presents good prospects for security and stability in Africa; in fact, India’s his- tory enables its government to speak authoritatively on issues like terrorism in many places where, quite simply, the credibility of the United States and some of its allies may be somewhat limited. India is not likely to present a direct challenge to the core interests of the United States in what U.S. policymakers and analysts now recognize to be the geostrategically vital region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, many of India’s national interests—like maintaining

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