Editorial: India-Mauritius, unwavering bond of friendship

New Delhi’s strengthening defence cooperation with Port Louis is seen as a strategic move to counter China’s growing influence in the region

Mauritius is among the few nations which have retained an unwavering bond of friendship with India at all times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Port Louis, to participate as a chief guest at the island nation’s Independence Day celebrations, reflects the deep and enduring ties between the two countries. With a new government led by Navinchandra Ramgoolam in power, this visit offers an opportunity to reaffirm and deepen the strategic partnership, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The two countries have strong maritime security cooperation. Mauritius’ strategic location in the Indian Ocean is very significant for India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative. New Delhi’s strengthening defence cooperation with Port Louis is seen as a strategic move to counter China’s growing influence in the region. To enhance maritime surveillance and intelligence sharing, India has established a coastal radar chain in Mauritius. Also, Mauritius has joined the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOC) located in Gurugram. Mauritius actively participates in the Colombo Security Conclave, collaborating with India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh to address shared regional security concerns, including maritime security, counter-terrorism and disaster management. This engagement underscores the island nation’s commitment to collective security in the IOR. In recent years, maritime security on the coasts of the Western Indian Ocean Region has emerged as India’s strategic priority. In February last year, India inaugurated a new airstrip and jetty at Agalega Island in Mauritius, reflecting its interest in playing the role of a net security provider in the region.

A key reason for the special bilateral ties is that people of Indian origin comprise nearly 70% of the island’s population of 1.7 million. The extension of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) privileges to Mauritians with Indian ancestry traceable up to the seventh generation significantly strengthens the enduring bond between the two nations, fostering deeper people-to-people ties and facilitating cultural and economic exchange through the diaspora. India has been a longstanding partner of Mauritius in building its maritime capabilities. In 2017, an Interceptor Boat C-139, together with on-board equipment leased by New Delhi to the National Coast Guard of Mauritius since 1993, was transferred to the Government of Mauritius. To take this maritime cooperation forward, the Indian Navy is set to sign a technical cooperation agreement on information exchange related to help enhance maritime security and ensure the safety of Mauritius’ trading corridors. Further, an armed forces contingent from India will participate in the celebrations along with a warship of the Indian Navy and the Akash Ganga skydiving team of the Indian Air Force. This reflects the growing importance accorded to security partnerships. For India, China’s increasing footprint in the Indian Ocean region has been a cause for concern. It thus wants to work closely with island countries like Mauritius.

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