Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reaffirmed India’s commitment to maritime security and capacity building in the Indian Ocean Region, describing India and Seychelles as maritime neighbours whose security, stability and prosperity are closely interconnected.
Addressing the 8th National Assembly of Seychelles during his three-day State visit, Modi said the Indian Ocean “does not separate, but connects India and Seychelles”, highlighting the growing strategic importance of the island nation.
“As maritime neighbours, we recognise that the security of one adds to the security of the other. The prosperity of one contributes to the prosperity of the other. The stability of the region benefits us all,” he said.
Modi, the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Seychelles Parliament, said cooperation between the two countries in maritime security, capacity building and hydrography reflected their shared commitment to a safer, more secure Indian Ocean.
Recalling India’s longstanding maritime partnership with Seychelles, he noted that INS Nilgiri was present at Port Victoria 50 years ago, during Seychelles’ independence. “Today, as you celebrate your Golden Jubilee, INS Ikshak and INS Tarkash are docked at Port Victoria,” he said, underscoring the continuity of India’s engagement with the island nation.
Highlighting Seychelles’ strategic maritime position, Modi said its maritime territory covers nearly 1.4 million square kilometres in the western Indian Ocean, making it “not a small island State but a large ocean country”.
“When people look at a map they may see Seychelles as a group of islands in the Indian Ocean but we see something much greater; we see a nation whose horizons stretch far beyond its shore,” he said.
Modi also recalled his first visit to Seychelles as Prime Minister in 2015, saying the country held a special place in India’s vision for the Indian Ocean and that his conviction had strengthened over the past decade.
Seychelles became independent from Britain on June 29, 1976. Modi is visiting the country from June 27 to 29 at the invitation of President Patrick Herminie and is scheduled to attend the Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as Guest of Honour.