India–Seychelles Relations – Expanding Maritime Partnership to Sustainability and Strategic Cooperation

India-Seychelles Relations Latest News

• The Indian Prime Minister and Seychelles President (Patrick Herminie) held bilateral talks in New Delhi, marking 50 years of diplomatic relations and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence. 
• The visit—within 100 days of President Herminie’s victory—underscores the strategic weight Seychelles attaches to India amid evolving geopolitics in the Western Indian Ocean Region (WIOR).
• The two countries adopted a Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) and signed multiple agreements across sectors.

Strategic and Maritime Cooperation – The Core Pillar

• Defence and maritime security:
  • It remains the central pillar of bilateral ties, and collaboration includes –
    • Maritime surveillance
    • Defence capacity development
    • Counter-piracy operations
    • Combating international crime and maritime threats
    • Protection of critical Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs)
  • The cooperation assumes greater importance given rising piracy and economic offences in the strategic Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and growing geopolitical contestation in the region.
• Colombo Security Conclave (CSC):
  • Seychelles was welcomed as a full member of the CSC.
  • Originally formed in 2011 by India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives; CSC later expanded to include Mauritius and Bangladesh.
  • The inclusion of Seychelles strengthens regional efforts towards –
    • Maritime domain awareness
    • Regional stability
    • Cooperative security architecture in the IOR
  • This aligns with India’s broader SAGAR doctrine and Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

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Joint Vision (SESEL) – Broadening the Partnership

• The adopted Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL) expands cooperation beyond security into sustainable development.
• Key areas of cooperation:
  • Marine research and ocean governance: Ocean observation, maritime scientific research, data-sharing mechanisms.
  • Climate action and renewable energy: Cooperation in renewable energy solutions, climate resilience initiatives for small island developing states (SIDS).
  • Health cooperation: Pharmacopoeial collaboration, strengthening healthcare systems.
  • Digital transformation: Support in digital governance and capacity-building, enhancing e-governance frameworks.
  • Meteorological cooperation: Technical and scientific collaboration between meteorological authorities.
  • Capacity-building: Training programmes for Seychelles civil servants, institutional strengthening initiatives.
  • Cultural and people-to-people ties: Cultural Exchange Programme (2026–2030); tourism cooperation, with India emerging as a growing market.

Economic and Developmental Assistance

• Special economic package: India announced a $175 million Special Economic Package, comprising $125 million Line of Credit (rupee-denominated) – remaining amount as grant assistance.
• The package will support: 
  • Public housing, infrastructure, mobility, maritime security, and capacity-building.
  • This reflects India’s model of development partnership without conditionalities, especially for small island nations.

Geostrategic Significance

• WIOR: Critical for global trade and energy flows. Seychelles’ strategic location enhances India’s maritime reach.
• Countering extra-regional influence: Strengthening ties helps balance growing external powers’ presence in the IOR. Reinforces India’s role as a net security provider.
• Blue economy and SIDS diplomacy: Seychelles, as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), is central to climate diplomacy, sustainable ocean governance, and blue economy initiatives.
• People-centric diplomacy: Shared democratic values, historical and cultural linkages, and emphasis on inclusive development.

India-Seychelles Relations

• Overview: 
  • Today, India-Seychelles relations embody close friendship, understanding and cooperation. 
  • Diplomatic ties were established with Seychelles after its independence in 1976.
  • With a significant presence of Indian Diaspora in Seychelles, cultural contacts between the two countries have been primarily community-driven with support from the two governments.
• Key aspects:
  • Trade: India exported goods worth US$ 64.88 million and imported goods worth US$ 8.96 million from Seychelles during 2022-23. 
  • Energy and environment: A Blue Economy Protocol between India and Seychelles was signed in 2015.
  • Development assistance: An important aspect of bilateral cooperation revolves around various development assistance programs extended to Seychelles under ITEC, ICCR and IAFS. 
  • Defence and security: India is a key security partner for Seychelles, helping with coastal surveillance, radar systems, and joint exercises like ‘LAMITIYE‘.

Challenges

• Geopolitical competition in the IOR: Rising strategic competition may complicate smaller states’ balancing strategies.
• Climate vulnerability of Island States: Seychelles faces existential risks from climate change, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
• Maritime security threats: Piracy resurgence; drug trafficking; Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing
• Economic dependence on tourism: Seychelles’ economy remains vulnerable to global shocks.

Way Forward

• Institutionalising: Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) through real-time data-sharing.
• Deepening: Blue Economy cooperation, including sustainable fisheries and marine biodiversity protection.
• Expanding: Renewable energy partnerships tailored to SIDS needs.
• Strengthening: Multilateral maritime frameworks, particularly through the CSC and IORA.
• Enhancing: Digital and governance partnerships for resilient institutions.
• Leveraging: India’s Vision MAHASAGAR and SAGAR doctrine to build a cooperative Indian Ocean architecture.

Conclusion

• The India–Seychelles partnership is evolving from a traditional defence relationship into a multidimensional strategic partnership encompassing sustainability, digital transformation, climate action, and economic growth. 
• As maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean, their collaboration contributes not only to bilateral development but also to the broader architecture of peace, stability, and inclusive growth in the WIOR.
• In the emerging geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, Seychelles remains a key pillar of India’s maritime vision, reinforcing India’s aspiration to be a credible and responsible security and development partner in the region.

Source: IE