Modi expresses India’s commitment to provide full support for the security of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mauritius by extending every possible assistance to meet the needs of the Coast Guard
India and Mauritius have decided to take their bilateral ties to the next level by elevating it to an ‘Enhanced Strategic Partnership’. The decision was announced after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Port Louis on Wednesday.
During the bilateral meeting, the two leaders reaffirmed that Mauritius and India enjoy a special and unique relationship that is unparalleled, given the shared bonds of history, language, culture, heritage, kinship, and values.
According to the India-Mauritius Joint Vision for an Enhanced Strategic Partnership, they acknowledged that Mauritius-India ties, anchored in people-to-people and cultural exchanges, have grown from strength to strength in the last several decades into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that cuts across various domains and benefits the two countries, their people and the wider Indian Ocean Region.
Prime Minister Modi, who was on a two-day visit to Mauritius, also attended the country’s National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest, the second time he has done so.
In his press statement alongside Prime Minister Ramgoolam, Prime Minister Modi highlighted Defence Cooperation and Maritime Security as key pillars of the bilateral partnership.
“The Prime Minister and I agree that Defence Cooperation and Maritime Security are key pillars of our strategic partnership. Free, open, secure, and safe Indian Ocean is our common priority,” Prime Minister Modi stated.
He also expressed India’s commitment to provide full support for the security of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Mauritius by extending every possible assistance to meet the needs of the Coast Guard.
Additionally, India shall also assist in setting up of the Police Academy and National Maritime Information Sharing Centre in Mauritius. Cooperation will be further strengthened in White shipping, Blue economy, and hydrography, Prime Minister Modi added.
Prime Minister Modi described Mauritius as India’s important partner in the Global South, the Indian Ocean and the African Continent. “Ten years ago, the foundation of Vision SAGAR, which stands for “Security and Growth for All in the Region” was laid here in Mauritius. We’re moving ahead with the SAGAR Vision for the stability and prosperity of this region,” he pointed out.
“Today, building upon this, I want to say that our vision for Global South will be – going beyond SAGAR – it will be MAHASAGAR, i.e. “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions”. It shall encompass the ideas of trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, and mutual security for a shared future. Under this, we will extend cooperation through technology sharing, concessional loan and grants,” Prime Minister Modi stated.
Modi on Wednesday attended the National Day celebrations of Mauritius as the Chief Guest for the second time, an honour he first received in 2015.
“Honoured to attend the National Day celebrations of Mauritius! Wishing the people of Mauritius continued prosperity and success as we also strengthen the deep-rooted ties between our countries,” PM Modi posted on X after attending the event.
During the celebrations, Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool also conferred the ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’ (GCSK) award, the highest civilian award of Mauritius, on Prime Minister Modi, the first time that an Indian leader has received the honour.
Modi dedicated this award to the special friendship between India and Mauritius and to the 1.4 billion people of India and their 1.3 million brothers and sisters in Mauritius.
The government of Mauritius on Tuesday announced its decision to bestow the country’s highest honour ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’ to Prime Minister Modi during his ongoing two-day State Visit to the Indian Ocean archipelago.
Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam made the announcement just before PM Modi began addressing an Indian community event in Port Louis on Tuesday evening. Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian to receive the honour.
It is also the 21st international award bestowed upon PM by a country. “It is very fitting for you, Prime Minister. Since we became a republic, only five foreign dignitaries have got that title and among them there is a person who we call the ‘Gandhi of Africa’ – Nelson Mandela who received it in 1998. Let me tell you that we are greatly honoured to have you amongst us here today and that you managed to find time out of your very, very busy schedule,” said Ramgoolam amidst huge applause.
During the National Day celebrations, an Indian Navy marching contingent also participated in the parade. An Indian Naval Ship also made a Port Call to coincide with the National Day celebrations.
Earlier in the day, Modi wished the people of Mauritius on their National Day. “Looking forward to today’s programmes, including taking part in the celebrations,” he stated while also sharing the highlights from Tuesday’s key meetings and programmes.
The rare repeat invitation to Modi for the National Day celebrations underscores India’s special relationship with Mauritius that remains rooted in shared history, culture, and diaspora ties.
In 2023, Modi was the Guest of Honour at France’s Bastille Day Parade, another defining moment that symbolized India’s growing military and strategic partnership with the European nation. The sight of Indian tri-services marching down the Champs-Élysées alongside French troops reinforced India’s major role in global geopolitics.
