Why is India posting defence attachés to African nations, Armenia, Philippines?

In a first, India is deploying defence attachés to several new countries, including African nations, Poland, Armenia and the Philippines. The move comes amid China’s growing presence in Africa and its military assertiveness in the South China Sea

India will deploy around 16 new defence attachés from the armed forces to several new countries. AP (Image used for representational purposes only)

In a first, India is deploying defence attachés to several new countries, including African nations, Poland, Armenia and the Philippines. The move comes amid renewed geopolitical tensions.

The development also signals India’s growing focus on Africa where New Delhi has ratcheted up military engagement and is keen on expanding strategic ties amid China’s increased presence on the continent.

Let’s take a closer look.

What’s a defence attaché?

A defence attaché is a member of the armed forces serving at an embassy as a “representative of his/her country’s defence establishment abroad and in this capacity enjoys diplomatic status and immunity,” according to the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) piece.

Advertisement

The defence attaché’s work usually concerns bilateral military and defence relations. Some countries send attachés for security issues, such as migration or matters relating to police and justice, as per the DCAF article.

The defence attachés are also responsible for facilitating communication and cooperation between their home nation’s armed forces and the host country’s military, reported Livemint.

Defence attachés act as a link between diplomats and the military. Reuters (Representational Image)

They act as military and/or security advisor to their country’s ambassador and embassy staff. They can also promote their home nation’s military weapons industry, as per DCAF.

According to Livemint, defence attachés collect and examine military intelligence, facilitate military cooperation pacts, and give evaluation of security issues to their home country’s government. They also act as a link between diplomats and the military.

India to send defence attachés to new countries

India has started dispatching defence attachés to many new countries, while reportedly downsizing the military personnel at its missions in some other nations.

Government sources said on Wednesday (10 April) that 15-16 new attaches from the Indian Navy, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army are being posted to Poland, the Philippines, Armenia, and the African countries of Tanzania, Mozambique, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast, reported Times of India (TOI).

This comes after “some rationalisation” by reducing the number of military officials in the other large missions in Russia, the United Kingdom and France, the newspaper report added.

Advertisement

“Some of them have already joined their new posts. In the next phase, 10 entirely new defence wings will be created in different countries, with a particular focus on nations to which arms can be exported,” a source told TOI.

With this, New Delhi aims to expand its strategic ties with these countries while also pushing arms exports. The military officers freed up through rationalisation will be deployed to the countries that have become more significant in defence and security cooperation, reported Hindustan Times (HT).

Focus on Africa

New Delhi is posting a new military attaché to the tiny African nation of Djibouti, who will only be the second officer to hold the post, as per HT.

Advertisement

Djibouti is strategically located in East Africa and is a major maritime hub around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. According to PTI, it is viewed as a prized location for military bases.

China has also enhanced its influence in Africa. Beijing first set up its overseas military facility in Djibouti in 2017, which gives it access to crucial Red Sea shipping lanes, noted Business Standard.

The Asian giant is now looking to establish more logistical turnaround facilities from the African east coast to the Indian Ocean Region’s Malacca Strait, according to TOI.

New Delhi has also ramped up efforts to expand ties with Africa. This was visible with the induction of the 55-nation African Union (AU) as a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency last year.

Advertisement

Out of the 26 new missions being set up by India around the world, as many as 18 will be in African countries, reported HT.

The decision to deploy military attachés in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Ivory Coast is in line with New Delhi’s priority to step up strategic engagement in African countries, PTI reported citing an unnamed source aware of the matter.

According to HT, India is sending a defence attaché to Ethiopia after several decades. New Delhi had a military officer at its mission in the East African country’s capital Addis Ababa during the rule of Mengistu Haile Mariam in the mid-1970s.

Advertisement

The new defence attachés postings show the importance India attaches to Africa.

“These postings will send out a message that Africa matters. They will also open up possibilities for military cooperation and arms sales at a time when many African states are working to modernise their militaries,” a person in the know of the matter told HT.

Why the other countries matter

India dispatching a defence attaché to Poland, which is a part of the European Union (EU) and has emerged as an important security partner in Europe in recent years, is also significant.

The EU posted a military attaché to its mission in India for the first time last year. India’s move to do the same in Poland is “reflective of the desire to expand two-way defence ties”, PTI reported citing unnamed sources.

Armenia has become a major exporter of India’s arms. New Delhi has already inked deals with the Asian country for Pinaka rockets, Akash missiles, ammunition and multi-barrel rocket launchers, with some of them coming amid Armenia’s clash with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia has shown interest in expanding its defence ties with India.

China’s military assertiveness in the South China Sea has prompted India to grow military ties with ASEAN countries. India’s decision to send defence attachés for the first time to the Philippines comes in the wake of the sale of Indian arms to Manila.

Chinese Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel Unaizah May 4 on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, 5 March 2024. Reuters File Photo

India signed a $375 million deal with the Philippines in 2022 to supply three batteries of the BrahMos missile. New Delhi will soon start the delivery of the missiles to the Southeast Asian country, PTI reported citing sources.

With inputs from agencies