India hands over five laser radial boats to Seychelles, strengthening maritime partnership
Victoria, Aug 11
India's High Commissioner to Seychelles, Rohit Rathish, on Tuesday handed over five laser radial boats to the Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles Defence Force, fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement during his State Visit to the archipelagic island nation in the Indian Ocean in June.
"Strengthening Maritime Partnership India, Seychelles. Following the announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Byenveni Modi his State Visit to Seychelles, five laser radial boats were handed over today by the High Commissioner of India to the Chief of Defence Forces, Seychelles Defence Force. The boats will help build seamanship skills of SDF personnel," the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles wrote on X.
"The delivery reflects India's steadfast commitment to strengthening the capacities and capabilities of the SDF and further deepens the enduring India-Seychelles defence and maritime partnership," it added.
On Saturday, the High Commission announced that members of the Seychelles Police are headed to Kochi to attend the Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Course at the Coast Guard Training Centre, strengthening the capacity-building cooperation in the area of maritime security.
"Capacity Building Cooperation India, Seychelles in the area of maritime security. CPL Stephanie Agathe, CPL Dwayne Fred, PC Ricky Fred, PC Vince Hollanda and PC Johannes Servina from the Seychelles Police head to Kochi for attending the Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) Course at the Coast Guard Training Centre from 10-21 Aug 2026, under the Colombo Security Conclave. Wishing them the very best!" the High Commission stated on X.
PM Modi paid a three-day State Visit to Seychelles in June at the invitation of President Patrick Herminie. He last visited Seychelles in 2015 while President Herminie undertook a State Visit to India in February this year.
PM Modi said that his visit to Seychelles was filled with "substantive outcomes" that will boost ties between the two nations. He expressed confidence that the next 50 years of India-Seychelles ties will be defined by innovation, sustainability and shared responsibility.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is exactly what SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) is all about! India is proving to be a reliable partner for small island nations. The training courses at Kochi for Seychelles Police will also help in maritime security cooperation.
Good initiative, but I wish we could see more concrete projects like infrastructure development or joint patrols. Boats are fine for training, but for real security we need more substantial cooperation.
PM Modi's visit to Seychelles in June is already showing results! This is how India builds lasting relationships with its maritime neighbours. Small gestures like these go a long way in building trust and cooperation.
This is a positive step, but I think we need to be more strategic. Seychelles is important for India's maritime interests, especially given China's activities in the region. We should also focus on intelligence sharing and surveillance cooperation.
It's encouraging to see India taking such initiatives in the Indian Ocean region. The Colombo Security Conclave cooperation shows a practical approach to regional security. These capacity-building efforts will benefit both nations.
Nice to see our 'Neighbourhood First' policy in action. The
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.