VICTORIA (SEYCHELLES): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived in Seychelles to begin a high-profile State Visit spanning June 27–29, 2026. The visit is set to reaffirm one of the Indian Ocean Region’s (IOR) most enduring strategic partnerships. While bilateral ties continue to grow across development cooperation, healthcare, capacity building, and people-to-people relations, maritime security and defense remain the absolute cornerstone of the alliance.
Over the past two decades, India and Seychelles have systematically evolved their military engagements into a comprehensive security grid. Anchored by India’s maritime vision—articulated through Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)—Seychelles stands out as a pivotal partner in combating modern geopolitical threats, securing international sea lanes, countering piracy, and preventing illegal fishing.
Upgrading Fleet and Air Surveillance Capabilities
A defining characteristic of India’s defense relationship with Seychelles is its persistent material support to the Seychelles Coast Guard. Over the years, India has gifted multiple vessels and aircraft to enable the island nation to police its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) effectively:
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Fast Patrol Vessels: India handed over the SCG PS Zoroaster in April 2021 to assist in anti-smuggling, search and rescue, and fisheries protection missions. More recently, in February 2025, India presented the replacement patrol vessel PB Boudeuse in the presence of Seychelles’ top leadership.
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Coastal Surveillance Radars: Six Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems gifted by India in 2015 are currently being repaired and upgraded with Indian assistance to bolster Seychelles’ coastal tracking network.
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Airborne Surveillance: India gifted two Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft (in 2013 and June 2018), which continue to drive aerial reconnaissance against transnational crimes.
Escalating Joint Exercises and Naval Diplomacy
The military collaboration reached a historic peak in March 2026 with the 11th edition of the biennial joint military exercise, LAMITYE (“Friendship” in Creole). Held in Victoria from March 9 to 20, 2026, the exercise transitioned into its first-ever tri-service format, bringing together the Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel from both nations to execute counter-terrorism and maritime security drills.
Naval diplomacy has also seen continuous momentum through frequent port calls. In February 2025, India’s frontline stealth frigate INS Tushil made its maiden operational visit to Port Victoria. Other notable deployments include INS Sunayna (conducting advanced light helicopter demonstrations for Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan) and the historic arrival of the IASV Triveni, which featured an all-women tri-services crew as part of the Samudra Pradakshina expedition.
The partnership has increasingly grown reciprocal; in February 2026, the Seychelles Coast Guard vessel PS Zoroaster sailed to India to participate in Exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam, followed by a complimentary refit provided by India at GRSE, Kolkata.
Combating Emerging Transnational Threats
“Unlike security partnerships driven solely by transactional strategic calculations, India-Seychelles defense cooperation is underpinned by decades of deep trust, shared interests, and mutual respect.”
The western Indian Ocean faces escalating security vulnerabilities from narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, and maritime piracy. By extending defense industry collaboration—such as the Bharat Seychelles Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment (SIDE) held in Victoria—India is actively assisting Seychelles in achieving indigenous capability development.
As Prime Minister Modi sits down for bilateral talks over the next 48 hours, both nations are expected to roll out expanded frameworks for naval infrastructure, satellite-based maritime domain awareness, and joint capacity building to preserve peace across the wider Indo-Pacific region.
