New Delhi, April 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the India-Africa partnership holds “particular significance” amid global geopolitical challenges, sending a message of “stability” and “reliability” in a turbulent world.
Speaking at the unveiling of the logo, theme and website for the India-Africa Forum Summit-IV (IAFS-IV), Jaishankar said the two regions are not merely development partners but “partners in shaping a better world.” His remarks come as the international community grapples with multiple conflicts, notably the West Asia crisis, which has exceeded 50 days and has wide-ranging global effects.
The event, attended by ambassadors and diplomats from across Africa, revealed a logo featuring a lion superimposed on interlocked maps of India and Africa, with the theme “Enduring Partnership Shared Vision” and summit dates January 28-31. Jaishankar described the summit as a “unique opportunity” to deepen engagement and build a partnership that is “more ambitious, more inclusive and more future-oriented.”
He said that as the world navigates complex geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, India-Africa collaboration will serve as “a message of stability in a turbulent world, of reliability in an uncertain one, and of solidarity in difficult times.” Africa occupies a “central place” in India’s foreign policy, guided by equality, mutual respect and collective advancement.
India has expanded its diplomatic footprint in Africa, opening 17 new missions in recent years to total 46, which Jaishankar called the “next chapter in the enduring partnership” under the IAFS framework. He traced the relationship to civilizational linkages and centuries of cultural exchange, noting India’s solidarity with African nations during their anti-colonial struggles and the shared history of struggle, resilience and aspirations.
Jaishankar said India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” and Africa’s “Agenda 2063” are complementary roadmaps for sustainable, inclusive prosperity. He highlighted India’s advocacy for Africa’s place in global governance, citing the African Union’s inclusion in the G20 during India’s 2023 presidency as a key step toward elevating Global South voices.
Beyond diplomacy, development cooperation and capacity-building are central to the partnership. Jaishankar also emphasized defence, security and maritime cooperation, guided by the MAHASAGAR vision to maintain stability in the Indian Ocean Region and protect critical sea lanes. (ANI)
