Looking South: India’s Tryst with Latin America

When we talk about Indian geopolitics, we rarely look West—beyond the Middle East. But Latin America is becoming a crucial partner. Why? Lithium. The world is moving towards electric vehicles, and Latin America (the ‘Lithium Triangle’ of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile) holds most of the world’s reserves. India doesn’t have these resources. So, we’ve been quietly building ties. We have trade agreements with Mercosur (a South American trade bloc). Our oil companies are investing there. It’s not as flashy as the Quad or the border issues with China, but it’s foundational for the green energy transition. If India wants to meet its net-zero targets, we need a stable supply of critical minerals. Latin America holds the key. We’re late to the game, and China is already deeply entrenched there. But it’s never too late to diversify your supply chain.