- Mauritius holds critical geopolitical importance due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean and it acts as a gateway between Africa and other parts of the Indian Ocean.
- India’s partnership with Mauritius is crucial due to increasing Chinese interest in the region, which is making significant economic and infrastructural investments while expanding its geopolitical presence.
- PM Modi’s visit was significant as many bilateral deals and efforts were made to enhance the existing relationship between Mauritius and India.
- The Indian government has also agreed to extend the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status to the seventh generation of the Indian diaspora.
Prime Minister Modi has concluded his two-day visit to Mauritius. Prime Minister Modi was invited as the chief guest at the Mauritius National Day celebration. Mauritius is a small country situated in the western Indian Ocean, and 70% of its overall population is of Indian origin.
The history of Mauritius’ National Day also has Indian links. In 1901, when Gandhi was travelling from South Africa, he had a brief halt in Mauritius, where he gave speeches on three matters: the political empowerment of Mauritius, the upliftment of education, and the strengthening relations between Mauritius and India. Later, when Gandhi started the Dandi March, Mauritius celebrated the event as National Day.
This was Prime Minister Modi’s second visit to Mauritius. His first visit was in 2015. This visit was significant as many bilateral deals and efforts were made to enhance the existing relationship between Mauritius and India. Prime Minister Modi in Mauritius also offered prayers at the Ganga Talab in Mauritius and mixed the sacred waters of the Ganga there.
Additionally, Prime Minister Modi and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Naveen Ramgoolam, inaugurated the Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Mauritius. Prime Minister Modi was also bestowed with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean, one of the highest national awards of Mauritius.
Several partnership agreements were also made between India and Mauritius. Both countries agreed to exchange Indian heritage through the Char Dham and Ramayana Trail. A Memorandum of Understanding was also reached on labour recruitment, and the establishment of the Directorate of Science and Technology in Mauritius was finalized.
Furthermore, the Indian Navy’s formidable destroyer, INS Imphal, also opened its deck for visitors, welcoming a large number of people eager to explore India’s naval strength. The Indian government has also agreed to extend the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status to the seventh generation of the Indian diaspora. The OCI card was also provided to both the President and the Prime Minister of Mauritius.
More importantly, Mauritius holds critical geopolitical importance due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. It acts as a gateway between Africa and other parts of the Indian Ocean. This geography of Mauritius secures India’s geopolitical accessibility and visibility across the Indian Ocean. That is why the Indian government has specifically emphasized the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative. Under this project, India has been strengthening its relationship with Mauritius.
India’s partnership with Mauritius has also become crucial due to increasing Chinese interest in the region. China is making significant economic and infrastructural investments while expanding its geopolitical presence. This concerns India’s interests, prompting India to enhance its outreach across the Indian Ocean, with Mauritius being a key partner.
Recently, the Indian Ocean region has faced new challenges, mainly from non-state actors such as the Houthis and maritime pirates. Their activities in the region have increased, further necessitating security enhancement. These factors underscore why India has intensified its presence in the region—to ensure inclusivity and transparency in the maritime domain while safeguarding its geopolitical interests from existing challenges.
References:
- https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/why-pm-narendra-modis-mauritius-visit-is-important-and-how-it-has-a-china-link-7902081
- https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/pm-modi-returns-to-india-after-concluding-two-day-state-visit-to-mauritius-125031300024_1.html
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
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