India’s Indian Ocean Outreach: A New Era of Engagement | UPSC International Relations
A few years back, Prime minister Narendra Modi went on a three-nation trip to Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka which are three key Indian Ocean Island Nations. The visit of the Prime Minister to this nation’s maritime neighbors is reflective of India’s desire to shore up its profile in the Indian Ocean region.
India has always been the defense provider for Seychelles, they provided armaments and training to its forces. The Indian Navy has also been making regular forays into the island nation’s surrounding waters.
When Modi visited Seychelles, it was a historic moment because Modi is the first Indian prime minister in 34 years who visited Seychelles. India and Seychelles inked four agreements including on cooperation in hydrography, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and the sale of navigation charts and electronic navigation charts.
During Mauritius’s National Day celebrations, Prime minister Modi was the chief guest. In this event, the prime minister commissioned a 1300-ton Indian-built patrol vessel that is Barracuda-India’s first-ever export warship. In the coming years, New Delhi is planning to supply 13 more warships to Mauritius and also offered a $500million concessional line of credit to Mauritius for important infrastructure projects.
Modi’s trip to Sri Lanka was the first in 28 years by an Indian Prime Minister. The two nations signed four agreements, including ones for exemption from visas for holders of diplomatic passports, cooperation in assistance in customs, an MOU for youth development, and establishing a museum dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore. India also offered a fresh line of credit offer of $380million to Sri Lanka’s railway sector.
This approach towards the countries sharing the Indian Ocean will not only improve India’s bonds with other countries, but it will also improve the defense, finances, and business aspects of the country as well.
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