Successful Seychelles trip concluded, PM Modi departs for Mauritius

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday concluded a successful trip to Seychelles, departing for Mauritius for the second leg of his five-day, three-nation tour of the Indian Ocean island nations. During his visit, the Prime Minister held discussions on enhanced cooperation in maritime security, anti-piracy measures and renewable energy with Seychelles President James Michel. He also unveiled the coastal surveillance radar system in Victoria, which will enable the island nation to secure its maritime territory. Prime Minister Modi also secured the leasing of Assumption Island, one of the 115 islands that constitute the Seychelles. On paper, the island will be leased for 'island development' for tourism purposes, but in actuality, it could be put to use as a listening and surveillance post for India. During his day long stay, the Prime Minister also visited the Sree Navasakthi Vinayagar Kovil (Temple dedicated to Lord Ganesh), took part in a civic reception organized by the expatriate Indian community, unveiled a plaque and operationalised a coastal surveillance radar system at the Ma Josephine Mahe and attended a lunch hosted by President Michel. Relations between India and Seychelles have been characterized by close cooperation and understanding, specifically in the defence sector. In 1986, India had executed 'Operation Flowers are Blooming' in Seychelles, when on a request by then-president Rene, prime minister Rajiv Gandhi instructed then Indian Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Tahiliani, to dispatch the frigate INS Vindhyagiri to avert a coup. In 2009, on the request of Seychelles, India dispatched naval ships to patrol its exclusive economic zone and guard it against piracy. India has also helped Seychelles' armed forces in capacity building. In 2014, an Indian naval ship, the INS Tarasa, was gifted to Seychelles to augment surveillance and patrolling capacity of Seychelles waters. Several Indian ships have since made port calls in Victoria. Seychelles had earlier offered China its harbour for refuelling and docking of Chinese warships stationed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations.

India was alarmed by the development, though Beijing tried to assuage Indian fears that it was not looking at Seychelles as a military base, but only as a pit stop for refuelling purposes. Prime Minister Modi will be arriving in port Loius, Mauritius, later in the day.