International Relations

Module X
Indian Ocean Region
Maldives
Mauritius
Seychelles
India – The Net Security Provider in IOR
• 1988: Operation Cactus in Maldives

• 2004: Indian Ocean Tsunami - Operation Castor (Maldives) & Operation Rainbow (Sri Lanka)

• 2008 - Standby Credit Facility $100 million to Maldives

• 2014: ‘Water Aid’ to Maldives

• 2020: Mission Sagar – medical supplies to Indian Ocean littorals during COVID-19 pandemic

• 2020: Assistance during Mauritius Oil Spill

• 2021: Vaccine Maitri – COVID-19 Vaccine supplies to littorals

• Consistent political & economic support to Maldives, Mauritius & Seychelles

• Guarantor of maritime security & military assistance

India - Maldives
India’s Security Assistance to Maldives
• 2009 Defence Pact was a boost to strategic ties for greater co-op in

Maritime Security, active operational assistance by India’s tri-services

to the MNDF, Intelligence Sharing & Protection of Maldives EEZ.

• Assistance to MNDF in training, supply of equipment, capacity

building, joint patrolling, aerial & maritime surveillance.

• Joint Military Exercises - “DOSTI” (Coast Guards) and “Ekuverin” (Army)

• India has provided Dornier reconnaissance aircrafts, Dhruv ALH, Naval

Vessels & Coastal Surveillance Radar System for maritime patrolling

and surveillance.
Political Crisis in Maldives & Pro-China Tilt
• 2012 Political Crisis: Pro-India Mohammed Nasheed (MDP) ousted

• 2013-2018: Abdulla Yameen Gayoom (PPM) undermines ‘India First Policy’

• Rise in Anti-India Sentiments

• India had to deal with –

➢Political instability & weakening of democracy
➢Increasing influence of China
➢Strategic Projects: India loses v/s China gains
➢Rise in radicalism and jihadist activity backed by Pakistan
➢Opposition to Indian military presence – ‘India Out Campaign’
China’s Footprint Grows
• Maldives emerged as an important “pearl” in China’s

“String of Pearls” strategy

• Strategic Projects - China-Maldives Friendship Bridge

(Sinamale Bridge), Male Airport Project etc.

• 2016: Feydhoo Finolhu Island leased to China

• 2017: Maldives endorsed China’s BRI & joins Maritime

Silk Road initiative

• 2017: China-Maldives sign a Free Trade Agreement

India Makes a Comeback
• 2018-2023: President Ibrahim Solih restores ‘India First Policy’

• Prime Minister Modi visited Maldives to attend the swearing-in ceremony of

President Solih as his special guest.

• India has given a financial assistance of $2.6 billion in the form of budgetary

support, currency swap and concessional lines of credit to fulfil the socio-

economic development programmes of the Maldives.

• Greater Male Connectivity Project: Construction of a sea bridge connecting

the capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi.

• Uthuru Thilafalhu Project (UTP): Coastguard harbour project that was seen as a

cover for more permanent Indian military presence in the Maldives.

2023 Elections
• Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who represented the PNC-PPM coalition,

defeated President Ibrahim Solih of the MDP.

• He was the housing minister in the former government headed

by Abdulla Yameen Gayoom, whose PPM party had started

the “India Out” campaign calling for the removal of Indian

military presence and other projects.

• He has said that he will stick to his election promise of removing

foreign military presence (India Out) from the country.

Is India-Maldives Relations Back on Track?
• In Aug 2024, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar concluded a

visit to Maldives.

• Following the visit, leaders described the ties between the

two countries as the "strongest" bond and "modern" ties.

• Maldives trying to boost its tourism from India. India has

slipped to the 6th spot on Maldives' Top 10 tourism market

chart. India used to be No. 1 till last year. China has now

secured the top spot.

• Efforts are underway to increase the number of flights

between the Maldives and India.

Is India-Maldives Relations Back on Track?
• e-commerce sector: (MoU) with NIPI International Payments Limited

(NIPL), a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India

(NPCI), to advance the nation's e-commerce sector.

• Capacity Building & Training of Civil Servants: Maldives and India also

renewed an agreement which will enable the training of an additional

1,000 civil servants.

• India and Maldives inaugurated India's Line of Credit (LoC)-assisted

project of water and sewerage network in 28 islands of Maldives.

Is India-Maldives Relations Back on Track?
• Security: Both reaffirmed the current government's commitment to strengthening bilateral

relations with India and working together to ensure national and regional stability and

security, particularly in combating terrorism, extremism, and drug-related issues.

• Proposed FTA: The Maldives proposed establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with

India.

• India will begin permanently delivering perishable goods to Addu City.

• Loan Repayment Deferred: India agreed to extend the repayment deadline for $150

million of a $200 million debt. The loan was secured by the previous government upon

assuming office in 2019.

India - Mauritius
Historical & Cultural Ties
• Around 68% of the Mauritian population is of Indian descent.

• 1834: First batch of Indian indentured labourers landed in

Mauritius to work in sugar plantations.

• The day and location are designated as ‘Aapravasi Day’

and ‘Aapravasi Ghat’.

• Interconnected Freedom Struggle: Mahatma Gandhi &

Barrister Manilal Doctor.

• As a tribute to Gandhi and the Indian freedom struggle, the

National Day of Mauritius is celebrated on March 12.

Chagos Island Dispute
• Mauritius v/s UK

➢ Diego Garcia Military Base of USA

➢ Dilemma for India

Gateway to Africa
• India sees Mauritius as a Gateway to Africa

➢Enables India’s African Diplomacy

➢ Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and

Partnership Agreement (CECPA) signed in 2021.

➢It is the first trade agreement signed by India with a

African country.
Economic Ties
• India is Mauritius’ largest trading partner, and has

been the largest exporter of goods and services to

Mauritius.

• Mauritius has been the single largest source of Foreign

Direct Investment (FDI) into India.

• Mauritius is a Tax Haven and is often misused by

Money Laundering networks for Round Tripping Black

Money in to India.
Close Security Ties
• India has forged extensive defence relations with Mauritius to

safeguard sea lanes of communication.

• Indian naval ships regularly conduct maritime surveillance & joint

patrolling of the vast EEZ of Mauritius.

• Training for Mauritian police, defence personnel & coast guard.

• Counter-Terrorism co-op & Anti-Piracy missions.

• India has gifted Dornier aircraft, ALH Dhruv, Coastal Surveillance

Radar System & an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Barracudda for

anti-piracy efforts.
PM Modi’s Visit in 2015
• A key MoU was signed that will see India taking over responsibility to build transport

infrastructure (sea and air links) over the strategic Agalega Islands.
Strategic Ties
• India has carried out Hydrographic Surveys for Mauritius.

• Indian assistance in oil spill management.

Space Co-operation
• ISRO Tracking Station in Mauritius has been operational for 3 decades.

• Joint Small Satellite Development: MoU signed with ISRO in 2023.

India - Seychelles
Historical & Cultural Ties
• India’s bilateral engagement with Seychelles has evolved over

our historical contacts and continuous support to Seychelles for its

maritime security.

• Colonial-era trade links facilitated migration of Indian trading

community – Gujarati & Tamil Community.

• The number of PIOs with Seychelles citizenship is estimated to be

around 10,000 (or 10% of the population), which is significant in a

country with a population of just around 1 lakh.

Defence and Security Cooperation
• Mutual Concern: Piracy, Terror & Organised Crime in Indian Ocean

• India offers EEZ surveillance for Seychelles.

• India has gifted Fast Interceptor Boats, Dornier maritime surveillance

aircraft.

• India has installed Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems in Seychelles in 2015

enabling better coastal security for Seychelles.

• Biennial joint military exercise since 2001 – ‘LAMITYE’

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in

Mozambique & Seychelles.

• India offered a second line of credit for the defence and maritime
security cooperation of Seychelles for an amount of USD 100 million.
PM Modi’s Visit in 2015
• A key MoU was signed that will see India taking over responsibility to build transport

infrastructure (sea and air links) over the strategic Assumption Island.
Indian Ocean Groupings
Indian Ocean Rim Association
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
Colombo Security Conclave
Indian Ocean Commission
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
• It was formed in 1997 (then called the Indian Ocean Region-
Association for Regional Cooperation) in Mauritius.

• Its genesis came from a speech Nelson Mandela gave in

Delhi in 1995.

• India and South Africa with Mauritius decided to explore

“the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim of socio-economic
cooperation and other peaceful endeavors” that could
help developing countries within multilateral institutions.
IORA Priority Areas
The IORA’s 7 Priority Areas are:
1. Maritime Safety & Security
2. Trade & Investment Facilitation
3. Fisheries Management
4. Disaster Risk Management
5. Academic, Science & Technology
6. Tourism & Cultural Exchanges
7. Gender Empowerment

• The IORA also runs a special fund for project grants to members, and has a
particular focus on climate change.

• Strategic issues and the importance of keeping a free and open sea lane, guarding
against piracy have become an integral part of the discussions.
IORA Meeting 2023 at Colombo
• Sri Lanka took over the chairmanship from 2023 to 2025, with India assuming the
Vice-Chair role. Bangladesh held the chairmanship from 2021 - 2023.

• India said that it is important to maintain the Indian Ocean as a free, open and
inclusive space based on the UNCLOS.

• As the Vice-Chair for the next two years, India will be the "Vishwa Mitra” or the
world’s friend, a Voice of the Global South while working with IORA Member States.

• India’s specific focus will be in the areas of Maritime Safety & Security and Blue
Economy.

• India prioritized developmental issues, lack of robust connectivity, the burden of

opaque and unsustainable debt generated by unviable projects, threats to social
fabric posed by extremism and fundamentalism, dangers emanating from
terrorism, natural disasters and climate change.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)
• Established in 2008.

• It is a premier forum for cooperation and collaboration among navies of littoral

states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Colombo Security Conclave
5 pillars of cooperation of the CSC include:

• Maritime Safety and Security

• Countering Terrorism and Radicalization

• Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime

• Cyber Security, Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology

• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

• It is an intergovernmental organization
that links 5 African Indian Ocean nations:
1) Comoros
2) Madagascar
3) Mauritius
4) La Réunion (overseas region of France)
5) Seychelles
• It was created in 1982 and is based in
Mauritius.
Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

• Recently in 2020, India was admitted as an observer

in the Indian Ocean Commission.
• There are also 7 observers: China, India, Japan, the
Sovereign Order of Malta, the European Union, the
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie &
the United Nations.
 Prelims PYQ (2015)
Q. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional
Cooperation (IORARC)’, Consider the following statements:
1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and
accidents of oil spills.
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
 Prelims PYQ (2017)
Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium
(IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the
Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-
operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean
Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
 Mains PYQ (2013)
Q. Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years.
Should they be of any cause of concern to India? [200 Words] [10 Marks]