Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mauritius to enhance security cooperation and sign key agreements. The trip follows U.S. support for a deal regarding the Chagos Archipelago’s sovereignty. Modi will attend national day celebrations and discuss strategic ties with Prime Minister Ramgoolam, emphasizing India’s interest in countering China’s influence in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is scheduled to visit Mauritius on Tuesday to enhance security cooperation and to sign important agreements. His visit comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for an arrangement between Mauritius and Britain regarding the future governance of a U.S.-British military base in the Chagos Archipelago.
Modi will serve as the main guest at Mauritius’s national day celebrations and will engage in discussions with Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who has recently returned to power for his third term in 2024. This visit marks a significant diplomatic occasion aimed at bolstering strategic ties between India and Mauritius.
In discussions last month, President Trump indicated his backing for negotiations between Mauritius and Britain about the U.S. military base located in the strategically important Chagos Archipelago, which consists of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean. Diego Garcia, the largest of these islands, has been utilized as a British-American military base since the 1970s.
Officials from India preparing for Modi’s visit have expressed that a resolution regarding the Chagos sovereignty is viewed positively by New Delhi, especially since India has consistently supported Mauritius’s claims over these islands. Additionally, India has recently endorsed America’s presence in the Indian Ocean as a measure to counterbalance China’s influence in the region.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri remarked, “During the visit, there will be an opportunity for the Mauritius side to update us on any remaining issues… we continue to support Mauritius in its efforts to reach a mutually satisfactory and beneficial deal.”
Mauritius gained independence in 1968, yet Britain maintained control over the Chagos islands, displacing nearly 2,000 residents to establish the Diego Garcia military base, which was leased to the U.S. in 1966.
According to Samuel Bashfield, a specialist in Indo-Pacific security, it is beneficial for India to maintain the U.S. presence on Diego Garcia as it serves as a strategic counterbalance against China. India has aided Mauritius in improving its sea and air connections to the Agalega Islands in a bid to enhance its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean.
Bashfield stated, “Diego Garcia could serve as a useful runway for Indian surveillance aircraft in the Indian Ocean to use periodically.” A source close to Prime Minister Ramgoolam’s office noted, “Mauritius recognizes that both India and the U.S. share a common interest in containing Chinese influence in the region,” as China has heavily invested in infrastructure across several regional nations from the Maldives to Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s forthcoming visit to Mauritius signals a strengthening of bilateral ties, particularly in security cooperation amid regional geopolitical dynamics. The discussions surrounding the Chagos Archipelago and the U.S. military presence reflect mutual interests between India, Mauritius, and the United States in countering China’s influence. Overall, Modi’s engagement underscores India’s commitment to bolster its strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
