The Prime Minister has concluded the three-day State Visit to Seychelles.
Strategic Importance of Seychelles for India
- Strategic Location: Located at the crossroads of major Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) in the Western Indian Ocean, critical for India's trade and energy security.
- Maritime Security: Seychelles' 1.3 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) makes it a key partner for maritime surveillance, anti-piracy, and maritime domain awareness.
- E.g., India – Seychelles Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL), seeks to deepen collaboration in maritime domain awareness, intelligence sharing, etc.
- Indian Ocean Strategy: A vital partner in India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision for a secure and inclusive Indian Ocean.
- Countering Strategic Competition: India positions itself as a dependable development partner of Seychelles to counter China’s presence in the Indian Ocean.
- Blue Economy Partnership: E.g., Blue Economy Protocol between India and Seychelles in 2015.
- Defence Cooperation: E.g., biennial joint military exercise LAMITYE.
- UNSC Bid: Seychelles supports India’s permanent membership at the UN Security Council.
About Seychelles (Capital: Victoria)
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