India signs crucial deal with Seychelles on Indo-Pacific cooperation

PM Narendra Modi PicAFPIn a significant step to New Delhis quest for influence in the IndoPacific region India has signed an agreement with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation of Seychelles for the development management operation and maintenance of facilities on Assumption Island The island in Seychelles is leased to India for the operation of a naval base and air strip by the Indian navyForeign Secretary S Jaishankar and Seychelles Secretary of State Barry Faure signed the agreement on Saturday Relations with countries in the Indian Ocean Region and nurturing a climate of peace and stability are important cornerstones of Indias foreign policy Jaishankar said following the signing of the agreement Our vision for the region is based on cooperation and collective action to tackle maritime security challengesJaishankar referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks during his visit to the Seychelles in March 2015 when the latter said that Indias goal was to seek a climate of trust and transparency respect for international maritime rules and norms by all countries sensitivity to each others interests peaceful resolution of maritime issues and increase in maritime cooperation We seek a future for Indian Ocean that lives up to the name of Sagar an acronym that stands for Security And Growth for All in the Region Jaishankar saidSagar is an Indian initiative to have a positive effect on seaborne trade India after leasing Assumption Island began preparations for infrastructure development including quarters for the Seychelles Coast Guard and fixing the airstrip on the remote island where there is very little human activity India and Seychelles have had cooperation in the field of defence and maritime security for many years which has seen India helping to patrol the Seychelles waters and gifting several equipment to the Seychelles Peoples Defence Forces SPDFDuring Modis 2015 visit India announced gifting of a second Dornier surveillance aircraft to the Seychelles Coast Guard to increase maritime security India gifted Seychelles its first Dornier in 2013 India and the Seychelles had inked an agreement in the course of that visit to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island which lies 1140 km southwest of the mainland of Mahe and is one of the 115 islands that constitute SeychellesJaishankar said that India and Seychelles have over the years built an elaborate architecture of defence and security cooperation As two maritime neighbours we have a stake in each others security and safety Seychelles with its Exclusive Economic Zone EEZ spread over 13 million square km is particularly vulnerable he stated Recognising this India and Seychelles have drawn up a cooperation agenda that covers within its purview shared efforts in antipiracy operations and enhanced EEZ surveillance and monitoring to prevent intrusions by potential economic offenders indulging in illegal fishing poaching drug and human traffickingThe Foreign Secretary said that the IndiaSeychelles cooperation was further exemplified by the operationalisation of the Coastal Surveillance Radar System in March 2016 and our commitment to augment defence assets and capability of Seychelles We are proud of the role played by patrol ships Topaz Constant and Hermes and the Dornier aircraft in securing the resource rich waters of Seychelles he statedIn recognition of our strategic convergence in the Indian Ocean region the agreement that we sign today is an important step forward in the further deepening of our cooperation in the spirit of our unique bilateral ties he addedCatch up on all the latest Mumbai National and International news hereDownload the new midday Android and iOS apps to get updates on all the latest and trending stories on the go