India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations UPSC Overview, Agreements, Trade & Defence Ties

India’s ties with Kingdom of Eswatini have grown stronger through consistent diplomatic and strategic engagement. Kingdom of Eswatini, located in the Southern Africa / Africa, holds significant influence in global political and security affairs. Diplomatic relations between India and Kingdom of Eswatini were formalized in Pre-2002 (Trade Agreement signed), laying the foundation for a strong bilateral relationship. India and Kingdom of Eswatini maintain a India: Resident High Commission in Mbabane, Eswatini: Non-resident (Malaysia), operating embassies in each others capitals to strengthen diplomatic relations. The significance of India and Kingdom of Eswatini ties is of Friendly relations, support in international fora, development partner, highlighted by their defense cooperation, economic collaboration, cultural exchanges, and common objectives in global security. 

• India and Kingdom of Eswatini share a strong collaboration in Development partnership, trade, capacity building, health, agriculture, technology including defense, nuclear energy, trade, space, oil and gas, cybersecurity, culture, and education. 
• Significant pacts covering areas like Trade (2002), Health & Medicine (2018), Visa Waiver (Diplomatic/Official Passports) (2018) have been established between India and Kingdom of Eswatini to strengthen collaboration. 
• India and Kingdom of Eswatini have reported a total trade volume of Approx USD 2916 million (Apr-Oct 2023: Exports $2130M, Imports $786M), indicating a positive trend in their economic partnership. 
• India’s export relationship with Kingdom of Eswatini is marked by the regular supply of Pharmaceuticals, distillate fuel, fertilizers, machinery, rice, refined petroleum across various industries. 
• India and Kingdom of Eswatini maintain strong trade ties, with Organic chemicals, scrap iron, scrap copper, scrap aluminium being among the main imports. 

ITEC, ICCR scholarships, IT Park, STEM scholarships, Hole-in-Wall forms an important part of India–Kingdom of Eswatini relations, strengthening knowledge-sharing and capacity building. Covering themes such as Lines of Credit, Export to India, and Indian Companies operating in India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations, this article is a one-stop reference for GS Mains and PSIR Optional. 

India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Ties

The earliest ties between India and Kingdom of Eswatini can be traced to Visits by Swazi officials to India for conclaves. Notable high-level visits between India and Kingdom of Eswatini include King Mswati III (2011, 2015, 2017), Indian President (2018), which significantly advanced bilateral ties. 

• India and Kingdom of Eswatini have built their relationship through phases like Growing steadily, enhanced by high-level visits and new mission.

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Strategic & Political Cooperation of India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations

The Friendly relations, support in international fora, development partner of the relationship between India and Kingdom of Eswatini is reflected in areas like defense collaboration, economic partnerships, cultural diplomacy, and shared security concerns on the global stage. 

• Training slots for Eswatini defence personnel in India strengthens India’s security and fosters peace through military drills and strategic agreements with Kingdom of Eswatini. 
• Cooperation in IT, Disaster Recovery Data Center promotes digital cooperation between India and Kingdom of Eswatini, enhancing mutual trust, cybersecurity, and technological progress. 
• India and Kingdom of Eswatini collaborate through UN, Commonwealth, IBSA (Eswatini benefits from IBSA Fund) to address global challenges and promote cooperation. 
• The growing Discussions on renewable energy, Eswatini seeks investment between India and Kingdom of Eswatini includes collaboration on clean energy, solar power, and energy security. 

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Trade and Economic Overview of India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations

• To further enhance their partnership, India and Kingdom of Eswatini have secured several agreements, including those in Trade (2002), Health & Medicine (2018), Visa Waiver (Diplomatic/Official Passports) (2018). 
• India and Kingdom of Eswatini report a trade volume of Approx USD 2916 million (Apr-Oct 2023: Exports $2130M, Imports $786M), signaling further growth in their economic engagement. 
• Formal sessions like Foreign Office Consultations (Feb 2024), organized annually or biennially, aim to review and enhance the trade and investment cooperation. 
• India and Kingdom of Eswatini have provided multiple Multiple LoCs for IT, agriculture, Parliament, disaster recovery to promote economic development and enhance bilateral financial relations. 
• According to trade statistics, USD 786 million (Apr-Oct 2023) was the total export value to India from Kingdom of Eswatini. 
• India regularly exports Pharmaceuticals, distillate fuel, fertilizers, machinery, rice, refined petroleum to Kingdom of Eswatini, supporting mutual trade ties and economic collaboration across multiple sectors. 

Kingdom of Eswatinis imports from India totaled USD 2130 million (Apr-Oct 2023) as per the latest figures. WAPCOS Limited, Idam Infra represent the Indian private sector’s presence in Kingdom of Eswatini.

Socio-Cultural & Diaspora Engagement

The strong influence of the diaspora contributes significantly to the partnership between India and Kingdom of Eswatini, bolstering Contributing to Eswatini's economy and bilateral ties. India promotes friendship with other countries by encouraging ICCR scholarships, cultural troupes, promotion of cultural tourism and cultural visits. With Scholarships (ICCR, STEM), training (ITEC), institutional collaboration (AIIMS), India and the other country are sharing knowledge and learning together. 

• The Indian-origin population in Kingdom of Eswatini helps solidify the cultural and economic ties between the two countries. 

India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations Recent Developments

Continued momentum in India–Kingdom of Eswatini relations is visible through consistent Eswatini Chief Justice to India (Nov 2023) by senior leaders. India and Kingdom of Eswatini have recently worked on Protocol including Service Passport in Visa Waiver (Effective Nov 2023), shaping their diplomatic and sectoral engagements. 

• Several initiatives under Parliament building, Disaster Recovery Site, irrigation infrastructure are being implemented to strengthen bilateral relations. 
• The relationship between the two countries is poised for growth, given the Strengthening cooperation in various sectors, increased trade and investment.

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UPSC Relevance of India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations

• Data on trade volumes, diaspora statistics, and agreements are useful for objective-type questions.
• Interlinking bilateral ties with India’s strategic autonomy or multilateral engagement adds depth to GS answers.
• India–Kingdom of Eswatini ties can serve as case studies in essays on diplomacy, soft power, or global cooperation.
• For Anthropology or Sociology, diaspora dynamics offer relevant case material on migration and cultural integration.