Modi pledges enduring partnership with Seychelles, unveils vision for secure and prosperous Indian Ocean

By Aroonim Bhuyan

New Delhi/Victoria, June 28. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 28 reaffirmed India’s commitment to remain a “trusted partner” of Seychelles, outlining an ambitious vision for deeper cooperation in maritime security, the blue economy, climate action and digital transformation while addressing the National Assembly of Seychelles during the island nation’s golden jubilee celebrations.

In a historic first, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Seychelles National Assembly, describing the occasion as a special honour and congratulating the country on 50 years of independence.

The Prime Minister thanked Seychelles for conferring upon him the country’s highest honour, the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’, saying the recognition would encourage efforts aimed at environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Recalling his first visit to Seychelles in 2015, which was also his first visit to Africa as Prime Minister, Modi said the island nation occupied a special place in India’s vision for the Indian Ocean region and that this conviction had only strengthened over the past decade.

Highlighting the historical depth of bilateral ties, Modi said relations between India and Seychelles predated the establishment of diplomatic ties and traced their roots back more than 250 years, when Indian settlers arrived on Saint Anne Island aboard the ship Thelemaque in 1770.

“The Indian Ocean does not separate India and Seychelles. It connects us,” he said, describing the two countries as old friends linked by people-to-people ties nurtured over generations.

The Prime Minister praised Seychelles’ multicultural identity and said the presence of Indian traditions in everyday Seychellois life reflected the enduring cultural bonds between the two nations. He pointed to the popularity of Indian cuisine and festivals such as Deepavali, Thai Pongal and Navratri celebrations in Seychelles as examples of this shared heritage.

Emphasising the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, Modi said India and Seychelles, as maritime neighbours, shared common interests in security, prosperity and regional stability.

He noted that an Indian naval vessel, INS Nilgiri, had been present in Port Victoria during Seychelles’ independence celebrations in 1976 and that Indian Navy ships INS Tarkash and INS Ikshak were currently visiting the port to participate in the country’s golden jubilee commemorations.

The Prime Minister highlighted the longstanding cooperation between the two countries in maritime security, defence training, hydrography and maritime domain awareness, and praised the professionalism of the Seychelles Defence Forces and the Seychelles Coast Guard.

Modi said his discussions with President Dr Patrick Herminie had focused on advancing a shared vision for the Indian Ocean under India’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) initiative.

“Our futures are interconnected and interdependent,” he said, adding that India and Seychelles would continue to work together for a safer and more secure Indian Ocean region.

Describing Seychelles as a “large ocean country” rather than a small island state, Modi praised the country’s leadership in promoting the blue economy, marine conservation and innovative initiatives such as blue bonds.

He identified fisheries, marine science, coastal management, renewable energy and sustainable tourism as promising areas for future cooperation.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the growing challenge posed by climate change to island nations and the Global South, arguing that countries that contributed the least to global emissions should not bear the greatest burden of climate impacts.

Calling for climate justice based on fairness and equity, Modi outlined India’s efforts in renewable energy expansion and international initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuels Alliance.

He reiterated India’s support for ensuring that the concerns of Small Island Developing States receive greater international attention.

On global governance issues, Modi said India and Seychelles shared the objective of creating a more inclusive international order that reflected contemporary realities and the aspirations of developing countries.

He pointed to India’s G20 presidency and its successful push for the African Union’s inclusion as a permanent member of the grouping as examples of New Delhi’s commitment to amplifying the voice of the Global South.

The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of youth and education in shaping future ties, noting that generations of Seychellois students, officials and security personnel had studied and trained in India.

“It is said that one in every 50 people in Seychelles has undergone some training in India,” he remarked.

Welcoming Seychelles’ IGNITE internship initiative, Modi said both countries could explore cooperation in skill development and digital innovation.

He offered to share India’s experience in building Digital Public Infrastructure, which he said had improved governance, expanded financial inclusion and enhanced service delivery for hundreds of millions of Indians.

Concluding his address, Modi said India would continue to stand by Seychelles as a reliable friend and partner and expressed confidence that the strongest chapters in the bilateral relationship were still ahead.

“The last 50 years have been remarkable, but the best of our friendship is yet to come,” he said.