India and Djibouti’s geopolitical scrum: 

India and Djibouti’s geopolitical scrum:

Context

• Indian President Ram Nath Kovind’s first visit abroad to Djibouti and Ethiopia suggests India’s realization of geopolitical significance of a region, the Horn of Africa.

Who all are the constituents of the Horn?

The four different states constituting the Horn —

1.   Somalia,
2.   Ethiopia,
3.   Eritrea and
4.   Djibouti

Also, Yemen across the Red Sea is described as one of the world’s pivotal regions.

What does the visit signify?

• India does not have an embassy in Djibouti. The president’s visit suggests Delhi is now ready to end its prolonged neglect of Djibouti and re-engage the region strategically.
• The emphasis is on “re-engagement”, for modern India has a long tradition of critical involvement in the Horn.

What is the importance of the Horn for India?

• Djibouti’s location at the confluence of the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean and the crossroads connecting Africa, the Middle East and Asia is of utmost importance.
• The barren land with population less than a million, the region’s multiple conflicts, both interstate and intrastate have made it a very attractive piece of geopolitical real estate.

China’s development in the Horn

• Beijing’s infrastructure development in the Horn led to the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative by President Xi Jinping.
• One of the more visible infrastructure projects in the region has been the 750 km-long rail link between landlocked Ethiopia and Djibouti.
• China’s geopolitical interest in the Horn has come into sharp focus over the last decade with the regular deployment of naval units to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden.
• As per an accord signed last year, Beijing has secured the rights to a base in Djibouti that can host up to 10,000 soldiers until 2026. This is the first ever foreign military base for China.

What is the current scenario?

• Many regional powers are now trying to shape the strategic landscape of the Horn through military bases and armed interventions.
• Djibouti has reported to host military facilities of Saudi Arabia and Qatar; Eritrea has bases for UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar; UAE and Turkey have facilities in different regions of Somalia.

Where does India stand?

• India is somewhat late in joining the journey for political influence in this critical corner of the Indian Ocean.
• The President’s visit will hopefully lay the foundations for a comprehensive engagement with Djibouti and the Horn of Africa