India’s relationship with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) has a long history, dating back to the colonial era.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, India was a major source of indentured labor for the Pacific Islands, with many Indian workers being taken to the region to work on plantations. This historical connection has had a lasting impact on the region, with many Pacific Islanders having Indian ancestry.
In the post-colonial era, India’s engagement with the PICs was limited, with the country focusing more on its immediate neighborhood and the Indian Ocean region. However, in recent years, India has been gradually increasing its engagement with the PICs, driven by various geopolitical, economic, and strategic factors.
India’s approach towards the PICs has been on a gradual positive shift, with the country recognizing the strategic and economic significance of the region. The PICs are a part of the larger Indo-Pacific region, which is critical to international commerce and security. India has been actively engaging with the PICs through platforms like the Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) and by increasing its diplomatic presence in the region.
The country has also been vocal about ocean-led growth and has endorsed the “Blue Pacific” concept, which emphasizes the importance of sustainable utilization of ocean resources.
India’s engagement with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) has been gradually growing in recent years, as the country looks to expand its influence beyond its immediate neighborhood and establish a stronger presence in the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The change is driven by various geopolitical, economic, and strategic factors. Geopolitically, the PICs are a part of the larger Indo-Pacific region, which has become increasingly important due to its strategic importance.
The strategic importance of the PICs in the Indo-Pacific region lies in their geographical location, economic potential, strategic significance, climate change vulnerability, regional cooperation, humanitarian and development assistance, and geopolitical rivalry.
India knows well that its engagement with the PICs is critical for promoting regional stability, economic growth, and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region. India also knows that the wider Pacific region has attracted the attention of major powers like the US, China, Japan, and Australia, which it has to deal with.
On the diplomatic front, India’s efforts have been largely focused on Fiji and Papua New Guinea, where it has resident missions. However, the country has been trying to develop a comprehensive and clearly defined strategy to engage with all the PICs, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
One of the key platforms for India’s engagement with the PICs is the Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC), a multilateral initiative launched by India in 2014. This platform has provided a much-needed push to India’s relations with the PICs, facilitating cooperation in various areas such as space technology, information technology, trade and investment, sustainable development, maritime security, and disaster management.
Another critical area of cooperation is the sustainable utilization of ocean resources, a priority for India and the PICs. The “Blue Pacific” concept, endorsed by the Pacific Island Forum Leaders, provides a common ground for India to engage with these countries, given its emphasis on the “blue economy”.
India’s growing engagement with the PICs has also been highlighted in various commentaries and analyses. Experts have noted that India’s outreach to the Pacific island nations is part of its broader strategy to increase its influence in the Indo-Pacific region and counter the growing presence of China.
India, like any other superpower with a growing interest in the PICs, has to deliver on the actual needs of the island economies rather than solely focusing on its own geopolitical agendas.
