The United Service Institution of India was founded in 1870 by a soldier scholar, Colonel (later Major General) Sir Charles MacGregor. The story of its growth is the story of the growth of the Indian Armed Forces. It was founded for ‘furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the Defence Services.’
In the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Global South, the strategic relationship between India and African nations has gained renewed significance. While traditionally grounded in historical solidarity, development cooperation, and trade, recent shifts indicate a move toward deeper military collaboration, maritime security partnerships, and strategic infrastructure investments under frameworks like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). However, this transformation raises critical questions about the impact of India–Africa engagement on regional security dynamics, particularly in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and Horn of Africa. Despite increasing cooperation, the absence of a coherent and unified strategic framework has created inconsistencies in engagement, potentially affecting regional power balances, counterterrorism efforts, and maritime stability. The lack of empirical assessment on how these evolving contours influence regional security hinders effective policymaking and multilateral coordination. This research aims to identify and analyze the key strategic shifts in India–Africa relations since 2010 and to assess the implications of these shifts for regional security (e.g., maritime security, counterterrorism, geopolitical stability). The research will also evaluate the effectiveness of India’s security cooperation with African nations under initiatives like SAGAR and ITEC and understand how African nations perceive and respond to India’s strategic outreach.