ABSTRACT
As part of its growing role in the Indian Ocean region, India is also expanding its economic, political and strategic influence in continental Africa. India exerted considerable political influence there during the period of decolonisation, including in the fight against white regimes in Southern Africa. India's main security interests are now in East and Southern Africa, where it is expanding its economic influence and promoting its role as a maritime security provider in the western Indian Ocean. India considers South Africa to be its key strategic partner in sub-Saharan Africa. But while there are some strategic commonalities between India and South Africa, this has not always translated into common perspectives.
