Djibouti, is a small country in the Horn of Africa located on the southwest shores of the Gulf of Aden. It is adjacent to the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait (a mere 18 miles wide at its narrowest point) the gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
Ships transiting between the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean pass through the strait, making this waterway a key choke point. Approximately 30 per cent of the world’s trade moves through this critical waterway.
There are seven foreign military bases in Djibouti. Djibouti is the only location where the USA and Chinese militaries are based within just a few miles of each other.
The global network of underwater cables requires a “landing point”, and Djibouti has become a major African player in the business of undersea cables.
Indian Interests in Djibouti include interests of Indian Diaspora, landing point for the Indian intercontinental fibre-optic communications cable, and support to the Indian Navy units deployed in strategic waters in Djibouti. Indian concerns are is related to the increased presence of China and its increasing strangle hold on Djibouti.
India and Djibouti have long-standing excellent bilateral relations and have a scope for deepening economic, commercial, technical, educational, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries. Both countries need to work jointly on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
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