African nations and blocs, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), are exploring the introduction of a non-circulating currency backed by critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and copper. This initiative aims to leverage Africa's vast mineral reserves to reshape global investment flows and assert the continent's mineral sovereignty. The move comes amid China's strategic use of economic statecraft to restrict access to minerals crucial for defense, technology, and artificial intelligence, which has impacted supply chains in the West. Concurrently, India is navigating complex geopolitical dynamics involving China, the US, and the West. While China maintains vigilance against substantial industrial cooperation between India and Western countries, India is capitalizing on the "ChinaPlusOne" strategy to attract foreign direct investment, accepting some sovereignty constraints to do so. India has also resumed trade negotiations with countries including the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates amid broader supply chain rebalancing. Apple is expanding its iPhone production capacity in India, which is expected to more than double with two new production centers. The Quad alliance is advancing cooperation in semiconductors, 5G, clean energy, and maritime infrastructure, with an upcoming summit in India anticipated to deepen these partnerships. China's export control framework and smart cities initiative in the Indo-Pacific region continue to embed digital dependencies and influence regional technology and security ecosystems. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities, prompting many Indo-Pacific countries to adopt the China+1 strategy to diversify manufacturing and reduce dependency on China. Despite geopolitical tensions, India remains a critical player due to China's dominant role in global electronics manufacturing, accounting for 60% of the sector.