India and Latin America stand at a pivotal juncture, with a Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) roundtable held in New Delhi on 23 June urging both sides to convert a long-underutilised relationship into a durable strategic partnership — one shaped by geopolitical realignment, supply-chain fragmentation, and growing concerns over strategic dependencies.

Who Was in the Room

The discussion, titled 'India–Latin America: The Unexplored Partnership', brought together ambassadors from Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica, alongside academics and strategic affairs experts. The breadth of diplomatic representation signalled that interest in deepening the relationship is no longer limited to bilateral conversations — it is becoming a regional conversation.

Key Themes: From Potential to Complementarity

Participants stressed that while India and Latin America are routinely described as regions of 'untapped potential', that potential has yet to translate into sustained political engagement, institutionalised cooperation, or diversified commercial partnerships. The roundtable argued that the relationship has moved from being largely unexplored to a phase of 'active engagement and discovery', and that the next stage must be defined by complementarity — paving the way for deeper structural convergence.

Speakers called for updating the narrative around India–Latin America ties to reflect recent developments, and for institutionalising existing channels across political, economic, strategic, and societal domains. More frequent high-level visits and sustained diplomatic outreach were flagged as immediate priorities.

Geopolitical Context and the China Question

A major thread running through the discussion was the changing geo-economic landscape — the fragmentation of global trade, the securitisation of supply chains, rising protectionism, and the growing weaponisation of economic interdependence. Participants noted that stronger India–Latin America engagement should be seen 'not as a substitute for existing partnerships, but as a means of enhancing strategic flexibility, economic resilience, and diversification.'

The roundtable also examined China's significant economic footprint across Latin America. Participants cautioned that India should avoid viewing the region solely through a competitive lens with China, and instead anchor its approach in its own comparative strengths — including demand-driven cooperation, capacity building, affordable technologies, pharmaceuticals, digital public infrastructure, and partnerships aligned with local development priorities.

BRICS and CELAC: A Window of Opportunity

Speakers drew particular attention to India's upcoming BRICS presidency and Uruguay's presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), describing the convergence as 'an opportunity to deepen dialogue and cooperation between the two platforms and advance a more structured India–Latin America partnership.' The dual presidencies offer a rare multilateral opening that both sides are being urged to use purposefully.

What Needs to Happen Next

The roundtable concluded that translating potential into outcomes will require sustained political attention, stronger institutionalisation, greater private-sector participation, and a near-term focus on a limited number of sectors where visible progress is achievable. CRF President Shishir Priyadarshi reaffirmed that the foundation 'will continue to provide a platform to build on existing efforts and facilitate deeper dialogue, research, and discussion on the relationship.'

The broad consensus was that the foundations for a stronger India–Latin America partnership are already in place — the challenge now is to build on them with structure, political will, and measurable outcomes.