Rapid Fire
India–South Africa Submarine Cooperation Agreements
- 30 Jun 2025
- 2 min read
India and South Africa signed two agreements on submarine cooperation during the 9th Joint Defence Committee (JDC) meeting held in Johannesburg.
India-South Africa Joint Defence Committee (JDC)
- These are bilateral institutional mechanisms established under the 2000 MoU on Defence Cooperation to strengthen defence ties.
- Relations are rooted in a shared anti-colonial struggle, with formal defence cooperation beginning in 1996 through an MoU on Defence Equipment.
- Co-chaired by the Defence Secretaries of both countries, the JDC serves as a high-level platform to review ongoing collaboration and identify new areas of mutual interest, including defence policy, military training, defence production, and research.
- It also oversees two sub-committees on defence cooperation and acquisitions, while facilitating structured dialogue, maritime security, and India's strategic outreach to Africa.
South Africa
- It is the southernmost country of Africa, bordering Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe (North), Mozambique, Eswatini (Northeast & East), and Lesotho (enclave).
- It has 3 capitals: Pretoria (Executive), Cape Town (Legislative), Bloemfontein (Judicial).
- South Africa shares maritime boundaries with the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
- Major physical features include the Drakensberg Mountains, Limpopo and Orange rivers, and landforms like the Highveld (grassland plateau), Bushveld (tree-dotted plains), and the Great Escarpment (mountainous rim).
India’s Initiatives to Support Africa
- Infrastructure & Training Support: Set up Rural Technology Parks, Food Testing Labs, Vocational Training Centres; provided training in crop processing, composting, irrigation, and mechanisation.
- Trilateral Cooperation: Partnered with FAO, USAID, and SITA (Supporting India’s Trade Preferences for Africa) to deploy agri-experts and support food security and irrigation planning in African nations.
- 3A Framework: Promotes Affordable, Appropriate, Adaptable agricultural technologies tailored to Africa’s local conditions.
| Read More: Evolving India-Africa Partnership |
