It’s been 11 years since Prime Minister Modi’s last visit to the island republic of the Seychelles, but as he underscored while addressing the National Assembly, “The Indian Ocean does not separate India and Seychelles. It connects us. That is why we do not meet as strangers, but as old friends.”
Situated astride critical shipping routes linking the Gulf, Africa and Asia, the island nation has become an increasingly important partner in India’s maritime strategy.
Seychelles occupies a powerful position in the western Indian Ocean, overseeing an Exclusive Economic Zone of nearly 1.4 million square km with a population of only 130,000. The archipelago lies close to major sea lanes linking the Gulf, eastern Africa and Asia, making it a valuable partner for monitoring piracy, illegal fishing, drug trafficking and other maritime threats.
The visit also comes amid increasing race for influence across the Indian Ocean. China has steadily expanded its presence among island nations through infrastructure investments, financing and defence cooperation.
Rather than competing through large-scale projects, India is positioning itself as a long-term development and security partner by giving grants, capacity building, training and locally identified priorities.
“As maritime neighbours, we recognise that the security of one adds to the security of the among other. The prosperity of one contributes to the prosperity of the other. The stability of the region benefits us all,” he said.
Modi’s visit produced 19 outcomes spanning defence, finance, digital technology and maritime security among others.
Among the most significant was an umbrella Line of Credit to fund priority development projects identified by the Seychelles government. The agreement operationalises the broader $175 million Special Economic Package announced earlier this year, combining concessional financing with grant assistance for social housing, green mobility, healthcare and digital public infrastructure.
The two countries also agreed to introduce India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in Seychelles through a partnership between the National Payments Corporation of India and the Central Bank of Seychelles. It will be ready by the end of the year.
India handed over a fast patrol vessel, L’Espoir, to the Seychelles Defence Forces along with 10 utility vehicles and five laser radial boats to strengthen maritime surveillance.
It also supplied six ambulances, 500 metric tonnes of rice and 8,500 metric tonnes of cement. Modi and Seychelles President Dr Patrick Herminie virtually inaugurated the Seychelles Professional and Technical Education Centre, being built with Indian assistance.
The president sought India’s assistance in supplying an Advanced Light Helicopter and establishing dedicated centres for Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Modi welcomed both proposals.
Misri confirmed that both sides recognised the need for stronger shipping and aviation links, although he clarified that launching dedicated maritime services or direct flights would ultimately depend on commercial operators. Governments, he said, would engage with the relevant industries to explore the possibilities.
The visit also highlighted India’s evolving maritime doctrine, MAHASAGAR, unveiled last year as an expanded version of the SAGAR vision announced in 2015.
While SAGAR focused primarily on maritime security, MAHASAGAR broadens the agenda to include climate resilience, the blue economy, digital infrastructure and sustainable development. Seychelles has become one of the earliest test cases for translating that framework into tangible cooperation.
India is increasingly positioning itself as a long-term development and security partner by giving grants, capacity building, training and locally identified priorities.
The visit also produced agreements on extradition, peaceful cooperation in outer space and disaster resilience, with Seychelles joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
