♤ Two civil model Dhruv helicopters to Peru.

♤ Seven Dhruv helicopters to Ecuador (now withdrawn from use following accidents), and

♤ Three Chetak helicopters to Suriname.

1.2.6. China Factor

♤ At a time when the world is witnessing the rise of China as a major global player, its steadily growing presence and influence should be enough of an incentive to drive the Indian government to take the necessary measures to bolster the country’s ties with South America.

♤ In 2016, China’s exports to Latin American & Caribbean countries was US$ 113 billion, while imports stood at US$ 103 billion as compared to US exports of US$ 135,963.5 million and imports of US$ 107,651.7 million. India, on the other hand, exported US$ 7,258.30 million and imported US$ 17,290.63 million worth of goods from Latin America and Caribbean.

♤ China overtook the US to become the largest export destination for Latin American countries like Brazil, Chile and Peru, and replaced the European Union (EU) as the second largest trade partner of the region in 2017.