India Strengthens Ties with Mauritius Through Maritime Agreement

New Delhi, Mar 12 (KNN) India is set to enhance its strategic partnership with Mauritius by signing a maritime agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to the island nation.

The agreement, once finalised, will facilitate the exchange of information between the Indian and Mauritian navies and coast guards on commercial shipping in their respective territorial waters.

The white shipping agreement is expected to bolster India’s maritime security by providing a closer watch over the western Indian Ocean. The move comes as China continues to expand its presence in the region, and amid the ongoing U.S. strategic pivot to Asia.

While an official announcement is awaited, the agreement signifies deepening bilateral cooperation in maritime security.

As a key highlight of Modi’s visit, the Indian warship INS Imphal made its maiden port call to Mauritius on March 10. The warship, an indigenous destroyer commissioned in 2023, is scheduled to participate in Mauritius’ National Day parades in Port Louis on March 12, with Modi attending as the chief guest.

INS Imphal will remain in Mauritian waters until March 14, engaging in joint activities with the Mauritian Navy and Coast Guard, including an exclusive economic zone surveillance mission and naval exercises.

Mauritius and India share longstanding maritime ties, with India having previously assisted in the development of Mauritian naval capabilities.

Notably, the Barracuda, an offshore patrol vessel of the Mauritian Coast Guard, was built by an Indian company.

Modi was present at its commissioning in 2015, where he introduced India's ‘SAGAR’ initiative—Security and Growth for All in the Region.

India also continues to support Mauritius' sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, a matter of geopolitical importance following a 2021 international tribunal ruling.

As global strategic interests shift, India is keen on securing its role as a key maritime partner in the region.

(KNN Bureau)