Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 19

IN FOCUS
India is aware of the potential that the vast seabed offers; however,
it is mindful of the environmental impact. India is looking to
collaborate on developing new technologies and exchanging best
practices for exploring ocean resources in a sustainable manner.
benefi cial in the fi ght against global warming. LAC region
also has the potential to help India achieve its nutritional
security goals as the region produces food products that are
familiar and part of the Indian diet.
In the strategic sphere, there are ample opportunities for
growth between the LAC region and India. The defence sector
needs to be explored. India has trained the armed forces of
various countries in high altitude mountain warfare and also
respond to the threat of terrorism in urban settings. India
has much to off er in terms of providing training of men and
equipment to smaller nations of the region for overall security
cooperation. This would be an investment that can be used
for enhanced cooperation in the area of UN peacekeeping.
India and the countries of the region are troop-contributing
nations. In such a situation, more interactions between the
armed forces would contribute to a better understanding of the
fi eld. It could lead to more routine exercises especially against
piracy, potential maritime terrorism operations, traffi cking of
humans, arms and narcotics and humanitarian assistance and
disaster relief operations.
With India’s operationalising the concept of the Indo-
Pacifi c, it brings into prominence the country’s relations
with the countries such as Peru, Argentina, Chile and also
Central American countries such as Panama and Guatemala.
As India engages more and more with the countries of the
Pacifi c Ocean to ensure freedom of navigation, maritime
cooperation provides another path for closer integration of
interests. Apart from security, the maritime domain provides
an opportunity to exchange expertise on the development of
the Blue Economy in a sustainable manner. India is aware
of the potential that the vast seabed off ers; however, it is
mindful of the environmental impact. India is looking to
collaborate on developing new technologies and exchanging
best practices for exploring ocean resources in a sustainable
manner. In the meantime, with most of its economic
movement dependent on the waters, it is improving its
coastal infrastructure. This provides LAC companies an
opportunity to invest in India.
India has to develop a greater understanding of the region.
The fi rst step in that direction would be for India to stop
looking at the regions a whole but understand that the needs
of the Caribbean nations are diff erent from the requirements
of the Central America nations whereas in South America
one has to understand the relations between these nations
as much as in understanding their relations with India. One
of the steps in that direction could be by opening more
diplomatic missions in the region. From the perspective of the
LAC countries, maybe there can look beyond a relationship
between the capitals to try and engage with the various
states. A valid step in this direction would be to encourage
the study of each other in universities, popularise the spread
of languages, and encourage more students and tourists to
visit each other. This will dispel the misconceptions and
misinformation of each other. It will also be economically
benefi cial in the long term. With the diaspora connect with the
Caribbean region, the countries of the region and India can
explore a multitude of ways to strengthen people to people
connect and enhance cultural relations.
Conclusion
In a world undergoing changes and transformation, India
wants to play a more meaningful role in the international
arena. India needs to develop a consistent and a privileged
relation with the countries of the region based on common
values, similar history, political participation of the people,
free movement of people, goods and services, stable market
economy and peace and security. A uniform approach to the
region is not the solution. India has to engage with the region
on a bilateral and through the various regional groupings
while maintaining cooperation and understanding on issues
at the multilateral sphere. India and the LAC countries need
to support each other in developing a narrative that is focused
on the requirements of the developing south rather than the
more developed north.
India’s relations with the countries of the region have been
warm and cordial. There are really no issues of contention
between the two and yet there remains a distance. The
civilizational links and the common historical experiences
have been highlighted time and again, but it is to bring the
relationship to the present and plan for the future.
* The author is a Research Fellow at Indian Council of
World Aff airs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida • 19