India hands over five radial laser boats to Seychelles are defence, maritime partnership deepens
Victoria, August 12
Continuing to strengthen the growing maritime partnership, India on Tuesday handed over five laser radial-class boats to the Seychelles Defence Forces.
The handover of the Seychelles Defence Forces forms a part of India's development assistance announced for Seychelles during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Seychelles earlier in June this year.
The details were shared by the Indian High Commission in Victoria in a post on X.
It said, "Following the announcement by Prime Minister @narendramodi during #ByenveniModi 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 Indian High Commission highlighted how the boats will help build seamanship skills of SDF personnel and said that 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the East African island nation in June this year and joined the National Day celebrations as Seychelles marked its 50 years of Independence.
He was the Guest of Honour at the landmark event, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to receive this rare distinction.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the visit as a significant milestone in bilateral ties, noting that Prime Minister Modi departed for India after what it termed a "highly successful" State Visit.
PM Modi's visit to the country saw the two partners take stock of the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with the leaders agreeing to further strengthen cooperation in health, education, capacity building, digital transformation, sustainable development, social infrastructure, renewable energy, maritime security and defence.
India and Seychelles also signed 19 memoranda of understanding (MoU) and agreements, including an extradition treaty to combat transnational crime and development assistance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Nice to see India helping smaller nations in the region. The 19 MoUs and extradition treaty are also important for tackling transnational crime. Hopefully this partnership truly benefits both sides in the long run. 🤝
Honest question - are these boats really going to make a difference? Seychelles needs more advanced patrol vessels for surveillance, not just training boats. But I appreciate the gesture, especially since PM Modi personally visited during their 50th Independence Day celebrations. It shows we value these relationships.
As someone watching from abroad, India's consistent engagement with island nations like Seychelles is impressive. This kind of soft power diplomacy - offering practical assistance and capacity building - is smarter than military posturing. Respect to India for its thoughtful approach to regional security.
India is slowly but steadily building its influence in the Indian Ocean region. While China is busy making big announcements and infrastructure deals, India is focusing on people-to-people ties and small but meaningful assistance. This is a classic case of "slow and steady wins the race." Well done!
What a proud moment for India! PM Modi being the first Indian PM to be Guest of Honour at Seychelles' Independence Day is a big deal. These small gestures - like these boats and the health and education cooperation - go a long way in building lasting friendships. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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