A better understanding of a defence attache’s role is a must for the most optimum outcome. Export opportunities for India’s domestic defence industry are essential to their work. Gone are the days when defence procurement and trade were the only areas of focus. Posting dedicated staff in Mozambique, Ethiopia and the Ivory Coast reflects the interest in deepening India’s strategic engagement in Africa, and addressing the interest in Indian military hardware. The military component in strategic relations must drive this engagement. Djibouti, the Philippines, Poland and Armenia aren’t just potential buyers of ‘toys for the boys’. Terrorism, intel gathering, defence advice and peace support require specialised engagement. The defence establishment must be ready for a broader, more strategic role. Defence personnel as foreign area officers must ensure an effective partnership with the foreign office.
Expansion must not, of course, come at the cost of reducing defence personnel in countries that are strategic partners. Rather than ‘rationalising’, current geopolitical challenges and fragmentation require more robust engagement, especially considering India’s tightrope walk on many international flashpoints.
