More than commercial, India's interest is seen as strategic, in the sense of strengthening its ties with an African country historically close to China, its main regional rival. Tensions between Luanda and Beijing due to debts from Chinese credit lines for the country's reconstruction and JL's recent rapprochement with the US are seen by New Delhi as an opportunity to assert itself in a relevant West African country, where its presence is much smaller than that of Indian Ocean countries, such as Mozambique. Among the main customers of military equipment such as Indian Mahindra armored vehicles are Mozambique and also Tanzania. READ MORE