ndian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan started a four-day official visit to Mauritius on Monday as part of India’s continued efforts to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation and deepen defence ties with the island nation.
During his visit, Admiral Swaminathan will interact with senior leadership of the Government of Mauritius and hold discussions on matters of mutual interest, such as maritime security, defence cooperation, capacity building and military collaboration.
India and Mauritius share a close and enduring maritime partnership . The Indian Navy engages regularly with the Mauritius National Coast Guard through training exchanges and operational interactions, including joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, port visits and hydrographic surveys.
Both countries also participate and engage with each other in multilateral forums and cooperative initiatives. Mauritius has been a regular participant in key Indian Navy initiatives such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, MILAN, International Fleet Review, Goa Maritime Conclave, IOS SAGAR and Exercise Mauritius occupies an important position in the south-western Indian Ocean, close to major sea lanes linking Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
India has supported Mauritius in strengthening maritime capabilities through the supply of patrol vessels, helicopters, aircraft, fast interceptor boats and other maritime equipment. Lines of credit and defence cooperation have also enabled Mauritius to procure Indian-built platforms on favourable terms.
The relationship also includes assistance with maintenance, repair and the supply of aviation spares, thereby improving the operational availability of Mauritian maritime assets.
A major achievement of India’s maritime assistance has been the establishment of a Coastal Surveillance Radar System in Mauritius. Built with Indian assistance, the network contributes to maritime domain awareness by enabling the detection and monitoring of vessels operating around the island nation.
India and Mauritius have also moved towards greater information-sharing, including cooperation on white-shipping information, and the proposed establishment of a National Maritime Information Sharing Center.