What Happened
- Seychelles President Patrick Herminie undertook his first state visit to India after assuming the presidency — signalling New Delhi's priority for the relationship
- India announced $175 million in assistance to Seychelles, with maritime security as a key component
- The visit is framed in the context of India competing with China's expanding maritime footprint in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
- Both countries adopted the SESEL Joint Vision covering maritime security, digital governance, health, and capacity-building
- India reaffirmed support for strengthening maritime surveillance, hydrographic surveys, and naval capacity-building in Seychelles
Static Topic Bridges
China's String of Pearls and Indian Ocean Presence
China's maritime expansion in the Indian Ocean, often described as the "String of Pearls" strategy, involves establishing a network of commercial and military facilities stretching from the South China Sea to the Horn of Africa. This has been India's primary strategic concern in the IOR.
- Hambantota Port (Sri Lanka): 99-year lease acquired by China Merchants Port Holdings in 2017 after Sri Lanka's debt distress
- Gwadar Port (Pakistan): Developed under CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
- Djibouti: China established its first overseas military base in 2017
- Maldives: China funded the Sinamale Bridge and several island development projects during the Yameen presidency (2013-2018)
- Duqm Port (Oman): Chinese investment in special economic zone
- China has conducted anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since 2008, maintaining a near-permanent naval presence in the Indian Ocean
- Chinese research and survey vessels have been detected in the Indian Ocean, raising concerns about submarine mapping
Connection to this news: India's $175 million package for Seychelles is a direct counter to Chinese attempts to expand influence in the western Indian Ocean, where Seychelles occupies a strategically vital position along major SLOCs connecting the Persian Gulf, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.
India's Island Nation Diplomacy in the IOR
India has developed a distinct diplomatic approach toward island nations in the Indian Ocean, treating them as frontline partners in maritime security rather than merely small states requiring development assistance.
- India's IOR island partners include Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Comoros, Madagascar, and Sri Lanka
- The Indian Navy conducts Mission SAGAR — humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) deployments to island nations
- India gifted a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Seychelles and has provided patrol vessels
- India helped Mauritius develop the Agalega airstrip and jetty — operational since 2024, used for maritime surveillance
- India extended $1.4 billion financial package to Maldives during the Ibrahim Solih presidency (2018-2023)
- The "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" policies guide India's engagement with IOR states
- India operates the Information Fusion Centre for the IOR (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, providing maritime domain awareness to partner nations
Connection to this news: President Herminie's state visit and the economic package exemplify India's island diplomacy playbook — high-level visits, defence assistance, development aid, and capacity-building — designed to create durable partnerships that counter Chinese encroachment.
Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and Coastal Surveillance
Maritime Domain Awareness refers to the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime environment that could impact security, safety, the economy, or the environment. India has been building a regional MDA architecture.
- India operates the Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS), providing coastal radars to Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka
- The IFC-IOR (Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region) was established in 2018 at Gurugram
- IFC-IOR has information-sharing linkages with over 22 partner nations and multinational maritime constructs
- India's own coastal security involves a three-tier structure: Indian Navy (deep sea), Coast Guard (exclusive economic zone), and state marine police (territorial waters)
- The National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network (NC3I) integrates coastal radar data domestically
- The White Shipping Information Exchange agreements signed with multiple countries enable sharing of vessel tracking data
Connection to this news: India's maritime security cooperation with Seychelles includes providing radar systems and surveillance capabilities — extending India's own MDA network into the western Indian Ocean, creating a shared early-warning architecture against security threats.
Key Facts & Data
- Seychelles' location: Western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, along key SLOCs
- India's aid to Seychelles: $175 million ($125 million LoC + $50 million grant)
- China's Djibouti military base: Established 2017, first overseas PLA base
- Hambantota Port lease to China: 99 years (2017)
- IFC-IOR established: 2018, located at Gurugram, Haryana
- IFC-IOR partner nations: 22+ countries linked for information sharing
- India's coastal surveillance radars provided to: Seychelles, Mauritius, Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka
- Agalega (Mauritius): Indian-developed airstrip and jetty, operational since 2024