India and Mauritius Ink $680 Million Deal in Major Strategic Move

NEW DELHI – India has announced a special economic package for Mauritius valued at a total of $680 million, which includes a strong strategic component focused on maritime security and influence in the Indian Ocean.

The deal, announced after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi, signifies a deepened partnership between the two nations.

The agreement includes in-principle accords for the redevelopment of the port in the Mauritian capital of Port Louis and the development and surveillance of the Chagos Marine Protected Area.

This vast ocean expanse is notably home to the US-UK Diego Garcia military base.

Geopolitical Stakes

This new strategic alliance comes after a recent treaty between Mauritius and the UK granted Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago.

This has expanded Mauritius’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its responsibilities within the region. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted that India is Mauritius’s “preferred partner” for protecting and securing its interests in the region.

Ramgoolam also stated that Mauritius wants to visit the Chagos Islands to “plant our flag” and noted that they had declined a British vessel for the trip, preferring one from India, which would be “symbolically more meaningful.” India has strongly backed the transfer of Chagos sovereignty, with Modi calling the agreement a “historic milestone.”

Broader Cooperation

Beyond the strategic components, the comprehensive package, which includes $25 million in budgetary assistance, aims to support Mauritian infrastructure, healthcare, and defence preparedness.

Projects include the expansion of highways and ring roads, and the construction of an ATC tower at the international airport.

Modi referred to the package as “an investment in our shared future,” underscoring India’s view of Mauritius as “family.”

Additional agreements were also signed, including a five-year pact for cooperation in hydrography.

Under this deal, the two nations will work together on joint surveys, navigation charts, and hydrographic data of the Mauritian EEZ. Modi affirmed India’s commitment to strengthening Mauritius’s maritime security, highlighting its role as a “first responder and a net security provider” in the Indian Ocean region.

Source: Times of India