Why in News?
- During the Indian PM’s State Visit to Seychelles (27–29 June 2026), India and Seychelles elevated their strategic partnership by signing multiple agreements.
- The visit also marked 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries and reinforced India's MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
What’s in Today’s Article?
- India’s Vision for the Indian Ocean
- Major Outcomes of the Visit
- Maritime Security - Central Pillar of Bilateral Relations
- MAHASAGAR Vision
- Other Highlights
- India–Seychelles Relations
- Conclusion
India’s Vision for the Indian Ocean:
- The Indian PM reiterated India's vision of transforming the Indian Ocean into an "Ocean of Opportunity", founded on:
- Maritime security and regional stability
- Sustainable economic prosperity
- Partnership based on mutual respect and trust rather than size or power
- Shared responsibility for security, sustainability and development
- India emphasized that the Indian Ocean is a shared strategic space, requiring collaborative action against both traditional and non-traditional security threats.
Major Outcomes of the Visit:
- Expansion of strategic partnership:
- The leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across several sectors:
- Health and healthcare
- Education and skill development
- Capacity building
- Digital transformation
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable development
- Social infrastructure
- Maritime security and defence
- Both countries also reviewed progress under India's Special Economic Package for Seychelles.
- Key agreements (MoUs) signed:
- Several agreements were concluded in the fields of:
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) implementation
- Healthcare
- Agriculture
- Banking and Exim Bank cooperation
- Shipping
- Space exploration
- Capacity building
- Extradition
- Line of Credit (LoC)
- These agreements aim to modernise Seychelles' economy while enhancing India's developmental partnership in the region.
- Development assistance:
- India announced a Special Economic Package worth USD 175 million, comprising USD 125 million (₹1,250 crore) rupee-denominated Line of Credit, and USD 50 million Grant Assistance.
- The package will support infrastructure development, food security, healthcare, vocational training, maritime security, and defence cooperation.
- India reaffirmed that its development partnership remains demand-driven and aligned with Seychelles' national priorities.
Maritime Security - Central Pillar of Bilateral Relations:
- Both countries reaffirmed maritime cooperation as the cornerstone of their partnership.
- Areas of cooperation include: Countering piracy, combating illegal fishing, tackling drug trafficking, addressing cross-border maritime crime, maritime surveillance, hydrography, and defence capacity building.
- India further strengthened Seychelles' maritime capabilities through the refit of PS Zoroaster, and gifting of the Fast Attack Vessel PS Lespwar to the Seychelles Coast Guard.
- These initiatives enhance maritime domain awareness and regional security in the Western Indian Ocean.
MAHASAGAR Vision:
- Seychelles reaffirmed its special place in India's MAHASAGAR vision.
- The initiative seeks to promote collective maritime security, blue economy, disaster resilience, sustainable development, regional connectivity, and inclusive economic growth.
- It represents an evolution of India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine towards broader regional cooperation.
Other Highlights:
- Parliamentary and diplomatic milestones:
- PM Modi became the first Indian PM to address the National Assembly of Seychelles.
- In his address, he highlighted shared democratic values, rule of law, people-centric governance, and the need for stronger parliamentary exchanges.
- Regional and global significance:
- The leaders exchanged views on major challenges facing the IOR, including piracy; illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime crime, and regional stability.
- The visit reinforced India's role as a preferred security and development partner for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Indian Ocean.
- Other developments:
- He received Seychelles' highest honour for environmental leadership—"Guardian of the Blue Horizon"—recognising India's contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
- Seychelles announced its decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), strengthening cooperation on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.
India-Seychelles Relations:
- Overview:
- Multifaceted, time-tested partnership: Rooted in maritime security, historic kinship, and shared strategic interests in the Western Indian Ocean.
- People-to-people ties:
- Indians have a long history in the archipelago, with the first group arriving as early as 1770.
- Today, the vibrant Indian diaspora plays a vital role in the country's socio-economic and professional landscape.
- Joint exercises: The two nations hold the biennial joint military exercise LAMITYE, which has been continuously running since 2001.
- Historical support: India has a history of stepping in to protect Seychelles' sovereignty, notably deploying naval assets during a coup attempt in 1986 (Operation Flowers are Blooming).
- Why Seychelles matters for India?
- Strategic location in the Western Indian Ocean along key Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
- Critical partner in India's maritime security architecture.
- Supports India's Blue Economy and Indo-Pacific strategy.
- Important for monitoring maritime threats (seaborne terrorism and piracy), ensuring regional stability and countering China's expanding influence in the Indian Ocean.
- Serves as a key partner in India's development diplomacy towards SIDS.
Conclusion: The visit reaffirmed India's commitment to a secure, inclusive, prosperous and rules-based Indian Ocean Region, while strengthening its position as a trusted partner for island nations in the Indo-Pacific.
