India, America and China's oil politics in Africa Prof. Khan M. Muslim Professor, Deptt. of Political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India Online published on 21 November, 2013. Abstract The Continent of Africa has become an important source of petroleum oil in recent times as there are new discoveries of oil reservoirs. The continent is producing more than 10% of world's crude oil. This has started a big rush of the major oil importing countries for African crude oil. In this, the United States of America and China have moved to the African oil fields to get maximum share for their own countries. This has resulted in intense competition for oil in Africa. The US and China are even trying to use their economic and technical advantage to secure maximum benefit. The US is also directly using its military power to influence or coerce the African countries to secure its oil supplies. India, which is also an important importer of 70% of its oil needs, cannot afford to remain isolated from African oil. It has been adopting several policies and programmes to secure its oil imports from Africa. India does not have economic and technical resources as compared to China or the United States to allure African countries. India has adopted a different approach to get its oil needs fulfilled from African sources. Its approach is based on mutual benefits and friendship. The purpose of the paper is to examine and analyse India, America and China's efforts and policies in Africa to secure their continuous oil supplies. The paper has come to the conclusion that India avoids American coercive policies and China's economic imperialism in Africa. Top Keywords Africanisation, Al-Qaeda, Conclave, Cooperation, Darfur, Defence, Imperialism, initiative, NEPAD, Peacekeeping, Rebels, Strategic, Team-9, Terrorists, Transportation. Top |