PM Modi was on a three-day visit to Seychelles (June 27-29), his second since 2015, to attend the 50th anniversary of their independence. Invited to grace the National Day Celebrations as the guest of honour, the visit also coincides with 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Seychelles. Received ceremoniously by Seychellois President Patrick Herimine and Vice President Sebastian Pillar, the diplomatic warmth resonates with the growing trust in the strategic partnership.
Disparate in sizes and separated
by the Indian Ocean, which is also the binding anchor in the relationships,
both nations exuded a new enthusiasm, an ocean of opportunities to build an
enduring partnership. Though small in land area, just 460 square kilometres,
Seychelles commands an Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.3 million square kilometres
and sits adjacent to the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Notwithstanding the
size, India has always treated nations with respect and as equal partners.
Reiterating the significance of maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region
(IOR), PM Modi announced that Seychelles is an important partner of India’s
SAGAR vision in 2015.
India’s
historic ties with the Indian Ocean Islands stretch back several centuries, and
the Indian Diaspora played a pivotal role in nurturing the connections. The
first recorded arrival of five Indians on board the Thelemaque ship at Saint Anne Island
of Seychelles dates to 1770. Since then, successive waves of
migrations from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have created enduring bonds of cultural
and economic linkages between the two nations. The bilateral ties are
underpinned by close people-to-people connections, with the Indian community
accounting for 10 per cent of the Seychelles population serving as a living
bridge.
During his visit, PM Modi
underlined that Seychelles lies at the convergence of India’s advocacy for the Global
South policy and the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth
for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR) Vision, a holistic approach to Ocean
governance. It attempts to integrate maritime safety challenges- maritime
terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking, Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)
fishing with climate action, blue economy, sustainability, resilience and
connectivity, which are vital aspects for maritime nations.
After Iran’s weaponisation of
geography during the recent conflict, the strategic importance of maritime
routes has become more pronounced. Comprising 115 islands, Seychelles, an
archipelago spanning 4°
to 10° South of the equator, is close to choke points - Mozambique Channel,
Bab-el-Mandeb and Cape of Good Hope and major energy trade routes. Aligning
with the security requirements of the archipelago, India has gifted two Dornier
aircraft in the past and during the current visit, PM Modi announced the
upgradation of an aircraft with a glass cockpit and the completion of the refit
of PS Zoroaster.
Additionally, India has gifted a fast patrol vessel, L’Espoir (meaning Hope
in Creole), 10 utility vehicles and five laser-assisted radial boats for
maritime surveillance.
Developmental Partnership was at
the core of India’s partnership with Seychelles and perfectly blends with the
Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced
Linkages (SESEL) adopted by both countries in February 2026. This vision is
mirrored in India’s assistance to the nation in development projects, capacity
building and training as per its requirements and priorities.
Notably, one in every 50
Seychellois has been a part of India’s training programmes. These formed the
bulk of the MoUs signed between countries, and other outcomes included
agreements on UPI digital payment infrastructure, export of generic medicines,
agriculture, extradition, recognition of seafarers’ training, line of credit,
space cooperation and development of a new Seychelles National Hospital. Leaders
have laid the ground for the construction of the Seychelles Professional and
Technical Education Centre under the special economic package of $175 million
announced during President Herminie’s visit to India in February 2026.
For the first time, India
extended credit in rupees amounting to Rs 1250 crores. India also provided the
archipelago with 500 metric tons of rice and 8500 tons of cement to stabilise
food security and infrastructure challenges which were faced due to the Middle
East crisis.
Simultaneously, countries are
also advancing cooperation in energy, especially green energy and climate
action. Seychelles is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), highly vulnerable
to climate change. In his address to the National Assembly, the first ever by
an Indian Prime Minister, PM Modi, who calls SIDS, Large Ocean Countries,
expressed his steadfast commitment to advance their aspirations at the global
level. Positioning the Blue
Economy as a strategic pillar of the bilateral relationship, keen
on championing climate change, India pledged to share expertise in ocean observation,
marine science, and coastal management. Seychelles joined India’s Coalition for
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), affirming its trust in India’s
climate leadership. In recognition of the pioneering efforts of PM Modi in
combatting climate change, Seychelles aptly honoured him with the “Guardian of
Blue Horizon” honour.
The
conferment of the highest distinction by Seychelles is a new milestone in the
India-Seychelles relationship that witnessed cyclical fluctuations in
diplomatic ties. In 2015, PM Modi, during his Indian Ocean outreach, signed
foundation agreements with Mauritius and Seychelles to build strategic installations
at Agalega and Assumption Islands, respectively. In 2024, India
and Mauritius jointly inaugurated an air and naval staging facility at Agalega
Island. However, eleven years later, the Assumption Island agreement, hijacked
by narrative, hit a roadblock.
India’s maritime plans in the
Indian Ocean suffered a setback after usual suspects began to peddle Agalega
and Assumption Island agreements as military bases. In 2021, strongly denying
reports of surrendering sovereignty, Mauritius disclosed the dual-use
capabilities of the project. Both India and Mauritius even reworked the
blueprint of the project to allay local concerns over environmental fears.
Agalega now serves the twin purposes of catering to the patrolling needs of the
2.3 million Sq.km of Mauritian EEZ and offering critical logistical and
surveillance support to the Indian Navy.
In 2018, India and Seychelles
revised the text of the Assumption Island agreement, which President David
Faure approved. The revised text wasn’t made public, fanning dangerous
speculation and suspicion about a 20-year lease for the construction of an
airstrip and jetty. Indian-origin leader of the opposition in the parliament, Wavel John Charles Ramkalawan,
stalled its ratification even after India clarified that the operational
control would be with Seychelles. After Ramkalawan became President in 2020,
India reiterated its commitment to strengthening maritime security and sent
50,000 doses of COVID vaccine. After COVID, the Assumption Island project lost
momentum. Though Ramkalawan didn’t cancel the Assumption Island agreement, he
didn’t even ratify it. President Herimine won the October 2025 Presidential
elections and visited India in February 2026.
Located southwest of Seychelles,
Assumption Island lies along the Mozambique Channel through which global trade
transits. Recognising the strategic importance of Seychelles, China has forged
close ties with the archipelago through infrastructure contracts since 2000. It has built the Supreme Court, the National
Assembly, law institutes, academic institutes, roads, buildings and signed a
defence pact in 2004. By 2011, Beijing commenced negotiations for a naval base
at Assumption Island and faced domestic opposition over environmental concerns.
The Island is close to Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to
the World’s largest population of tortoises. After China established its first
overseas military base at Djibouti, it dropped the Assumption Island plan. This
injected a sense of urgency into India’s strategic calculus, prompting New
Delhi to secure a foothold in the region.
The
strategic geographic location of Seychelles and the India-China rivalry have
lent the archipelago strong leverage. Successive leaders of Seychelles secured
maximum gratification from India and China by indulging in double talks. Factoring
in Seychelles’ colonial legacy as a former French-British colony, India has
even explored a trilateral cooperation arrangement for Assumption Island with
France. Seychelles’ current dispensation has adopted a new vision which heavily
leans on defence capacity-building, joint patrolling, and hydrography. A
special invitation to PM Modi as Guest of Honour for the 50th
National Day Celebrations underscores a growing trust in India’s friendship.
Along
with a change in leadership, India’s remarkable role in the UK-Mauritius treaty
and the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius are no
mean feat. This diplomatic success, along with India’s strategic patience
towards the Maldives in turning an anti-India regime into a friendly one, is
definitely not lost on these Indian Ocean Nations. It may not be a coincidence
that PM Modi has also been the Guest of Honour for the 50th
anniversary of Mauritius Independence Day Celebrations. On that eve, India
signed a landmark agreement to establish a satellite telemetry, tracking and
communication (TTC) station in the Chagos Archipelago, in a huge boost to
India’s space research and maritime surveillance capabilities.
Upholding
the mantra of win-win partnership, India has been forging close ties with the
extended neighbourhood in the Indian Ocean. Traditionally, India has been the
security provider to the entire region and has played a crucial role in
averting coups in the Maldives and Seychelles. In the 1980’s several coup
attempts were made against President René of the Seychelles. Indian Navy
launched “Operation Flowers Are Blooming” in 1986 and dispatched INS
Vindhyagiri to Victoria after receiving a firsthand intelligence report of a coup
by the Defence Minister. Indian Vessel remained at the port on the pretext of
repair for two months and averted the coup. In another instance, President Rene
was away from Seychelles for the Non-Aligned Conference in Harare. PM Rajiv
Gandhi, who was at the conference having learnt about a coup attempt, lent his
Air Force One to reach Port Victoria.
Seychelles’
status as a high-income country has led many Western countries to scale back financial
and military aid, creating a critical gap in the archipelago’s maritime
security capabilities. India has stepped up to fill this critical role. To
strengthen its engagement, India has constituted the Indian Ocean Rim
Association (IORA), which includes Mauritius and Seychelles. Seychelles has now
become a full member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), which primarily
focuses on maritime safety and security.
India
now has a permanent eye in the Western Indian Ocean through which Chinese naval
vessels must pass when transiting between the Pacific and Indian Ocean
theatres. As Beijing continues to expand its commercial and military
infrastructure with ‘Pearl of Strings’ encircling India, New Delhi is also broadening
its arc of influence.
Mauritius and Seychelles are emerging as key
nodes in India’s evolving Indian Ocean Arc, complementing Lakshadweep, Nicobar
Islands, Indonesia’s Sabang and Singapore. Through sustained, patient and
consequential diplomacy, India is transforming engagement with littoral states into
mutually beneficial strategic infrastructure.
Laying
out India’s vision, PM Modi succinctly stated, “The Indian Ocean does not
separate India and Seychelles. It connects us. That is why we meet not as
strangers. We meet as old friends”. The statement encapsulates India’s vision
for the region- one rooted in shared history, mutual respect and a common
commitment to ensuring that the Indian Ocean remains safe, secure, open and
inclusive.
