Prime Minister Modi will visit Mauritius to strengthen strategic ties, coinciding with U.S. support for a deal on the Chagos Archipelago. Modi’s discussions will focus on sovereignty issues while reinforcing India’s commitment to counteracting Chinese influence in the region. The visit underscores the growing collaboration between India and Mauritius in ensuring regional security and stability.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mauritius for discussions on enhancing strategic relations. This visit comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for a resolution concerning the Chagos Archipelago, which is significant due to the U.S.-British military base located there. Modi will be the chief guest at Mauritius’s national day celebration and will meet with Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, who recently returned to office.
Trump’s commitment to supporting a deal between Mauritius and Britain over the future status of the U.S.-British base highlights the geopolitics surrounding the Chagos Archipelago, particularly Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island used as a military base since the 1970s. Indian officials confirm that resolving the Chagos sovereignty issue aligns with New Delhi’s long-standing support for Mauritius’s claims and its recent endorsement of U.S. presence in the Indian Ocean to counterbalance China’s influence.
During Modi’s visit, discussions will likely center on the ongoing sovereignty issues over Chagos. India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri indicated a supportive stance on Mauritius’s efforts to secure a advantageous agreement, emphasizing the significance of a mutually beneficial arrangement. Since gaining independence in 1968, Mauritius has been advocating for its rights over the Chagos Islands, which were seized and inhabited forcibly for military purposes.
Experts like Samuel Bashfield note the strategic importance of retaining U.S. military presence in the region as a counterbalance to China, which has been expanding its influence through infrastructure investments across the Indian Ocean. India has played a role in bolstering Mauritius’s capabilities by enhancing transportation links in the Agalega Islands, with Diego Garcia serving as a potential resource for Indian military operations.
A source from Prime Minister Ramgoolam’s office highlighted that both Mauritius and India share common objectives in curbing Chinese expansion in the region, particularly as China invests in multiple projects across neighboring countries such as the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
The impending visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mauritius marks a significant step in solidifying strategic ties amid evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indian Ocean. The support from the United States, as indicated by President Trump’s remarks on the sovereignty of Chagos, plays a crucial role in this context. Furthermore, the mutual interests shared by India and Mauritius in containing Chinese influence reflect a broader regional strategy that underscores the importance of collaboration among these nations.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
