India–Latin America relations

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India
Latin America

India–Latin America relations are relations between India and the countries of Latin America. Trade is the main factor in India-Latin America relations.[1] Latin America is India's fifth-biggest trading partner (if treated as one country).[2]

History[edit]

Before India's independence in 1947, contact between India and Latin America was minimal. A few Indians came into Latin America during this time period due to the trans-pacific slave trade.[3]

In the first 50 years after India's independence, ties between India and Latin America remained minimal;[4] India's participation in the Non-Aligned Movement and the British Commonwealth, as well as its geographical distance from Latin America,[5] separated it from the region. As recently as 1992, Indo-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) trade was worth less than $500 million.[6] However, India did provide support in UN votes to Latin American countries in their conflicts with America, resulting in reciprocal support,[7] and the Indian diaspora in LAC (such as the Indo-Caribbeans) was one of the factors providing a connection between India and Latin America throughout this time.[8]

In the 21st century, India-Latin America relations have increased significantly.[9] In 1996, as India and Latin America were taking steps to liberalize their economies, India started a "Focus LAC" policy.[10] In recent years, India has sought to improve relations with Latin America as part of its overall desire to be a leader on the world stage.[11] Latin America for its part has sought stronger ties with India as it has moved from a Western-oriented foreign policy in previous centuries to a more multipolar approach.[12] In 2012, the first India-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit was hosted in New Delhi.[13]

India signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Mercosur in 2004.[14] Peru, Chile and Colombia have expressed interest in signing or have expanded their PTAs with India in recent decades.[15]

India and China are sometimes analyzed as competing for engagement with Latin America;[12][16] Indian FDI in the region is around $12-16 billion, while Chinese FDI is worth $159 billion.[17] India-Latin American trade peaked at $50 billion in 2022,[2] and is projected to reach $100 billion by 2027.[18] Latin America receives 1/3rd of India's car exports,[19] while India seeks energy and food security through Latin America.[20] Weak transport capability and above-average tariffs are said to be significant factors holding India-Latin America trade back.[21]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Seshasayee, Hari (2020). The ebb and flow of India-Latin America ties : exploring opportunities with Colombia. ALADI.
  2. ^ a b "Redrawing India-Latin America Relations in the 21st Century". orfonline.org. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  3. ^ "The First Asians in the Americas: A Transpacific History | Center for the Humanities at Tufts | Tufts University". humanities.tufts.edu. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  4. ^ "India and Latin America: Distant Acquaintance, Rhetorical Solidarity, Strategic Engagement". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  5. ^ Desai, Ronak D. "A New Era For India-Latin America Relations?". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  6. ^ "India and Latin America Trade - Economic Ties Latin America and India". Americas Quarterly. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  7. ^ Ross, Cesar (December 2013). "India, Latin America, and the Caribbean during the Cold War". Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional. 56 (2): 23–44. doi:10.1590/S0034-73292013000200002.
  8. ^ Krishnankutty, Pia (2023-11-27). "How India is boosting its strategic & economic ties with distant Latin America, Caribbean". ThePrint. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  9. ^ Domínguez, Jorge I. (2 October 2023). "India-Latin America Relations, 2000-22: Their Encounter and Shared Gains". Diplomacy & Statecraft. 34 (4): 777–799. doi:10.1080/09592296.2023.2270318.
  10. ^ Katju, Vivek; Viswanathan, R; Heine, Jorge (2011). "Latin America and the Caribbean: next step for India" (PDF). Indian Foreign Affairs Journal. 6 (1): 1–27. ProQuest 906073007.
  11. ^ Seshasayee, Hari (19 April 2023). Redrawing India-Latin America Relations in the 21st Century (PDF) (Report).
  12. ^ a b "India vs. China in Latin America: Competing Actors or in Separate Leagues?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  13. ^ Destradi, Sandra; Küssner, Eva (2013). Go South! India 'Discovers': Africa and Latin America (Report).
  14. ^ Mishra, Shashank Mattoo,Ravi Dutta (2023-04-13). "India, Latin America in talks to expand preferential trade agreement". mint. Retrieved 2024-05-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "India and Latin America: Where ignorance is not bliss". orfonline.org. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  16. ^ "Latin America and the Asian Giants". Brookings. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  17. ^ "What's Ahead for India and Latin America?". Americas Quarterly. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  18. ^ "'India from Latin America' takes a fresh look at India's economic development". The Week. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  19. ^ "Record trade of Latin America with India, but mainly commodities for industrial goods". MercoPress. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  20. ^ "Latin America and India add value to each other in business and beyond…". Financialexpress. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  21. ^ "IDB | New IDB study calls for more trade, cooperation between India and Latin America". www.iadb.org. Retrieved 2024-05-17.

Further reading[edit]