Seychelles Anchored at the Heart of India’s Vision MAHASAGAR Maritime Strategy

India has placed Seychelles at the core of its expanding Indian Ocean strategy, elevating the island nation as a key partner under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision MAHASAGAR — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The move reflects New Delhi’s broader effort to strengthen maritime security, deepen regional partnerships, and expand development cooperation across the Indian Ocean Region and the Global South.

During high-level talks in New Delhi with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, Prime Minister Modi described Seychelles as an “inalienable” and trusted partner in India’s maritime mission. The engagement marks a new phase in bilateral relations, positioning Seychelles as a strategic pillar in India’s evolving oceanic and geopolitical framework.

The visit, which coincides with 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, underlines India’s growing emphasis on island nations as key stakeholders in maintaining stability, safeguarding sea lanes, and promoting sustainable growth in the wider Indo-Pacific.

India-Seychelles joint presser. (X) | Firstpost

A $175 Million Economic Package to Deepen Development Ties

As part of the renewed partnership, India announced a Special Economic Package worth $175 million for Seychelles. The package includes a rupee-denominated Line of Credit along with grant assistance to support priority sectors such as social housing, healthcare, renewable energy, vocational training, e-mobility, and maritime infrastructure.

Indian officials have stated that the funding will also strengthen access to affordable medicines, expand healthcare capacity, and support climate-resilient development projects. Multiple agreements were signed covering pharmaceuticals, digital governance, data sharing, maritime scientific research, and the training of Seychellois civil servants in India.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation in fintech and digital solutions, while promoting trade in local currencies. These steps align with India’s broader Global South outreach, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and reducing dependency on traditional financial systems.

Maritime Security and the Blue Economy as Strategic Pillars

Seychelles’ strategic location along major global shipping routes gives it a critical role in India’s maritime domain awareness and security planning. Under Vision MAHASAGAR, both countries will expand cooperation in maritime surveillance, hydrography, and marine research to support Seychelles’ blue economy ambitions.

India will assist Seychelles in establishing a dedicated hydrographic unit to help map and manage its vast Exclusive Economic Zone, one of the largest in the region relative to population size. Enhanced hydrographic and ocean observation capabilities are expected to improve sustainable resource management, marine safety, and economic planning.

Defence and maritime security were emphasized as core pillars of the partnership. Seychelles has been welcomed as a full member of the Colombo Security Conclave, a regional security grouping that includes India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius. This integration is expected to strengthen coordination in countering piracy, illegal fishing, transnational maritime crime, and other non-traditional security threats.

Vision MAHASAGAR and India’s Expanding Indian Ocean Footprint

Vision MAHASAGAR represents an expansion of India’s earlier SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, broadening New Delhi’s maritime engagement from South Asia to the wider Indian Ocean and the Global South.

First articulated during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Mauritius, MAHASAGAR emphasizes trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and cooperative security frameworks. The vision is also widely seen as part of India’s response to growing strategic competition in the Indian Ocean, including increasing Chinese naval and economic activity in the region.

India has since stepped up naval deployments, maritime surveillance missions, and defence cooperation with several African and island nations, including Mauritius, Madagascar, Mozambique, Kenya, and Seychelles. These initiatives reinforce India’s ambition to act as a net security provider and long-term development partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

Strategic Importance of Seychelles in Regional Balance

By placing Seychelles at the center of Vision MAHASAGAR, India is signaling the rising importance of Indian Ocean island states in shaping regional stability and protecting vital sea lanes that support global trade.

Analysts view the strengthened India-Seychelles partnership as part of a broader diplomatic and strategic effort to promote a free, open, and secure Indian Ocean, while ensuring that smaller island nations benefit from inclusive growth, technology sharing, and sustainable development.

The partnership also reflects India’s strategy of combining hard security cooperation with soft-power development assistance, creating a comprehensive framework for long-term engagement in the region.

The MGMM Outlook

India’s decision to place Seychelles at the center of Vision MAHASAGAR reflects a clear strategic push to strengthen its leadership role in the Indian Ocean. By elevating Seychelles as a trusted maritime partner, New Delhi is reinforcing a framework that combines regional security, development cooperation, and diplomatic alignment. The emphasis on island nations highlights India’s recognition that stability in the Indian Ocean depends not only on major powers but also on smaller, strategically located states that sit along critical sea lanes. This approach supports a broader effort to promote a secure, rules-based maritime environment while deepening partnerships across the Global South.

The $175 million economic package and expanded cooperation in maritime security, hydrography, digital governance, and the blue economy demonstrate a comprehensive model that blends development with strategic interests. By supporting healthcare, renewable energy, vocational training, and maritime infrastructure, India is strengthening Seychelles’ institutional and economic capacity while also enhancing regional maritime awareness and security coordination. The integration of Seychelles into frameworks like the Colombo Security Conclave further reinforces collective efforts against piracy, illegal fishing, and transnational maritime crime, positioning the partnership as a key pillar in balancing security, sustainable growth, and long-term regional stability in the Indian Ocean.

(Sources: Firstpost, Times of India, India Today)