Facilitating a deeper bond between nations, India recently bolstered diplomatic relations by delivering two state-of-the-art Dornier 228 aircraft, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), to Guyana on Sunday. These aircraft are slated for deployment within the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), underscoring India’s commitment to enhancing security cooperation in the region. Through the provision of a Line of Credit, India enabled Guyana’s acquisition of these aircraft, marking a significant milestone in bilateral ties. While Guyana may not typically feature prominently in discussions of India’s global engagements, India’s proactive efforts in strengthening ties with the Caribbean region are unmistakable.
Sharing her views with Financial Express Online on the sale of two aircraft to Guyana, Dr Aparaajita Pandey, Ph.D. from Centre for Latin American Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, says, “It is important to note that India and the Caribbean share long standing diaspora linkages. Countries like Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago have huge Indian origin populations who have maintained cultural connections with their Indian roots and simultaneously made a pivotal impact on the economy and politics of the Caribbean.”
The planes arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport last evening aboard two Boeing C-17 Globemaster military transport planes.
About the Aircraft
The Dornier 228 aircraft is well-known for being versatile and reliable. It is a good choice for both military and civilian uses. It can be deployed for tasks like surveillance, gathering information, medical rescue, and transporting goods.
India’s Export-Import Bank loaned US$23.27 million to help buy this aircraft. It’s important for tasks like monitoring the sea and moving troops.
Neighbouring countries like Maldives and Sri Lanka have received these aircraft from India, showing its commitment to regional security and cooperation.
India-Caribbean Relations: Significance
“This rebuilding and strengthening of the Indo – Caribbean relationship was made more evident from the burgeoning number of high-level visits between India and the Caribbean region. India also made it a point to make the Caribbean a priority during the pandemic and did help the region under the initiative of Vaccine Maitreyi. India’s willingness to forge stronger ties with the region have been met with an enthusiastic response from the region, which also looks at India as a reliable partner and a leader of the global south. This has encouraged India to explore further avenues of collaboration with the region,” opines Dr Pandey.
In her view the extending of the Line of Credit from the Export – Import Bank of India (EXIM) to Guyana is another step in not only establishing strategic ties with the region as a whole, but also specifically Guyana. “Guyana has been becoming a stronger player in the region since the discovery of oil fields off the shore of the country. Guyana has the potential to be an energy partner for India. It can also be an ally to India in the Caribbean which would give India greater access to the region,” she states.
The extending of such Line of Credit from India has more often been observed in Africa and this is the first time that such an LoC has been extended to a country in Latin America and the Caribbean for the sale of Dornier 228 planes. It helps Indian defence production Industry cement itself in the region.
Guyana-Venezuela Situation
However, “one will have to be ready for the possibility of the Venezuelan reaction to the sale to not be the most positive. Venezuela has been a close Indian relation for decades and India – Venezuela have been studied as a case for oil diplomacy. The two countries have enjoyed friendly relations despite the sanctions, and politico – economic upheavals,” Pandey opines.
According to her, the current situation between Venezuela and Guyana is one that cannot be categorised as peaceful since, both the countries are claiming the oil fields that have been found to be in their territorial waters. In this context, there is a high chance that this sale by India to Guyana would be seen as India picking the Guyanese side by Venezuela.
In her opinion India would have to play a precarious balancing act between Guyana and Venezuela so that it can increase its presence in the region while maintaining its long-standing relations.