India uses satellites as soft-power tool with partner nations: Report
New Delhi, Aug 7
India's space cooperation agreement with Seychelles is the latest example of a decade‑long diplomatic push that uses space as a durable instrument of foreign diplomacy, a new report has said.
On its own, India's space cooperation agreement with Seychelles in late June 2026 may look like a routine technical arrangement but seen alongside a decade of similar moves, it reveals one of the quietest transformations in India's foreign policy, the report from Australia-based policy think tank Lowy Institute said.
The pact covers ocean observation, marine science and coastal management, the report said, pointing out a template of similar satellite‑based services offered over the last decade on generous terms to partner states.
"Seen against India's wider diplomatic toolkit of the past decade, this list looks less like a series of disconnected bilateral deals and more like one strand of a much larger project," the report said.
New Delhi, since 2014, has built an entire soft power portfolio around modest, practical initiatives presented as goodwill rather than strategy, it added.
In May 2017, India launched South Asia Satellite, a geosynchronous communications platform, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described as a "gift" to neighbours, providing tele‑medicine, tele‑education, disaster management and broadcasting services. Since then, India has expanded cooperation, building ground stations in Bhutan and pursuing facilities in Fiji and Vietnam.
India also deepened space cooperation with Australia, Japan, and the United States, and launched a formal Space Dialogue with the European Union in November 2025.
New Delhi had signed space cooperation agreements with 61 countries and five multilateral organisations by early 2024.
The report contrasted India's strategy with that of China's Belt and Road infrastructure financing in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific that has drawn resentment.
The think tank said satellites are a portable form of soft power that can be offered to any partner without the political baggage of large loans.
"India's approach earns less strategic leverage in the short term, but it also earns far less local backlash," the report said, however, warning that India is effectively acting on faith, delivering its side up front with no lever to ensure follow-through.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is exactly what soft power should look like. Not just Bollywood and yoga, but actual technology sharing that helps smaller nations with disaster management and marine science. The South Asia Satellite being a "gift" to neighbours was a masterstroke. It builds trust without strings attached.
As someone who follows geopolitics closely, this is a smart strategy. India is positioning itself as the benign satellite provider in the Indo-Pacific. It's refreshing to see India's space program used not just for national defence but as a diplomatic bridge. The contrast with China's approach is clear — India wins friends, not resentment.
While I appreciate the sentiment, the report's warning is critical. We are delivering our side up front with no guarantee of follow-through. What if partners like Seychelles turn to China later? We need to be more strategic — perhaps include reciprocity clauses in these agreements. Soft power is nice, but it needs a hard edge to be sustainable.
This is such a great example of "technology for good". Our scientists are not just putting rockets into space — they are helping farmers, fishermen, and coastal communities across the region. The ocean observation data from Seychelles will help them with marine resources. That's real impact! 🌊🛰️
Interesting report from Lowy Institute. But we also need to be careful not to overextend ourselves. While it's good to be generous, our space budget is still limited. We should focus on getting the most strategic value from each partnership rather than just counting the number of agreements signed.
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