African nations are increasingly being drawn towards India due to the lack of significant benefits from the presence of Western nations, such as the US and France, in the continent's geopolitical landscape, a military expert has said.
The comments by Lieutenant-Colonel J.S. Sodhi (retd) came against the backdrop of recent reports that Nigeria was in talks with India to purchase a range of defence products from the South Asian na
Military Equipment Nigeria Aspires to Procure From New Delhi
Among the weapons systems that Nigeria is seeking to acquire from New Delhi are India's indigenous light combat aircraft LCA Tejas, light combat helicopter (LCH) 'Prachand' and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) 'Dhruv'.
The total price tag for the proposed Nigerian contract is estimated at $1 billion.
In this context, the former Indian military officer pointed out that Nigeria is the most important country in West Africa, both economically and politically.
"Presently it has only 10 aircraft in its air force. It is planning to expand its fighter aircraft fleet as it now has aspirations of becoming a major military power in West Africa," Sodhi told Sputnik India on Thursday.
Tejas Perfectly Suited For Nigeria's Air Warfare Requirements
Sodhi revealed the reasons behind Nigeria's eagerness to buy the LCA Tejas from India.
"With India emerging as a credible defence exporter due to its state-of-the-art and advanced weapons, which are comparatively much cheaper than similar military hardware offered by other countries, the African nation has envisaged a keen interest in purchasing Tejas and military helicopters from New Delhi," Sodhi added.
LCA Tejas
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Africa Occupies an Important Place in Global Geopolitics
The defence analyst emphasized the crucial need for major powers, including India, to establish strong defense alliances with Africa. With its 55 countries and abundant reserves of critical minerals, Africa holds tremendous importance.
Sodhi emphasized that Africa has recently been reconsidering their stance on benefiting from the West, especially the US and France. Consequently, there is a growing geopolitical attraction towards India.
"More so, with India's rise as an economic and military power, it is emerging as a credible voice for the Global South, of whom Africa is an important part," he concluded.