Political stability and a long-term strategic vision play a significant role in nurturing relations with countries. The two-day long PM Modi’s visit on March 11^th to Mauritius after a decade as the Chief Guest for the National Day Celebration underscored a strategic continuity. In November 2024, Navin Ramgoolam stormed into power with a landslide. He became the Prime Minister of Mauritius for the third time. Among the first decisions he made was extending the invitation to PM Modi for the National Day Celebrations.

Ramgoolam’s alliance was voted to power 60-0 in its favour as the previous government headed by Pravind Jugnauth’s negotiation with the UK over the Chagos archipelago drew widespread criticism for the inadequacies in the October 2024 agreement. Chagos, a remnant of colonial vestige, has been a contentious issue between Mauritius and the UK. Initially a French Colony, Mauritius along with Seychelles and Chagos, were ceded to Great Britain after the Napoleonic wars in 1814.

In 1965, the UK constituted the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), comprising over 55 islands of Chagos archipelago governed by Mauritius from the 19^th century. In 1966, the UK signed an agreement with the US allowing it to use BIOT for military purposes. Mauritius became independent in 1968, but the UK retained control of the Chagos Archipelago. Evicting the native Chagossians, the US built a naval base on the only habitable islands of Diego Garcia, which became operational in 1986.

Chagos, located to the northeast of Mauritius, served as the military outpost of the US and British during the Cold War era. This overseas military base served as a hub of American war operations

Mauritius strongly fought back to wrest Chagos from the UK, which paid $ 3 million as a ‘detachment amount’ for Chagos. Following the 2019 ICJ ruling and the UNGA resolution in the same year, the UK and Mauritius began negotiations in 2022. An agreement was reached in October 2024 recognising Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, including Diego Garcia. But the UK would, for an initial 99-year period, exercise “the sovereign rights (over Diego Garcia) and authorities of Mauritius are required to ensure the continued operation of the base well into the next century”. The UK has created a fund to resettle the displaced Chagossians. But negotiations regarding annual payment, infrastructure development and financial support are yet to be finalised.

Throughout the course of the negotiations, India extended steadfast support to Mauritius. Acknowledging India’s role, the joint statement released by Mauritius and UK mentioned, “In reaching today’s political agreement, we have enjoyed full support and assistance of our close partners, United States of America and Republic of India”. In line with India’s principled stance on decolonisation, India firmly supported Mauritius.

Mauritius expressed its appreciation by extending a warm Bihari welcome to PM Modi. As a special gesture, PM Ramgoolam, in a break from the protocol, received the Indian Prime Minister at the airport, along with a large contingent of 200 leaders. India and Mauritius have remarkably warm ties. Deeply intertwined by cultural heritage and historical bonds, both countries enjoy a special and unique relationship.

Nearly 70% of the Mauritius population is of Indian origin. The British imported nearly five lakhs of Indians as indentured labourers to take care of the plantations in Mauritius. Designated as ‘Girmityas’, the majority of Indian diaspora in Mauritius are Hindus. Unlike the Indian Diaspora elsewhere, Indian origin people in Mauritius proudly wear their cultural roots on their sleeves. Mauritius has the world’s biggest cultural centre of India. It is the headquarters of the World Hindi Secretariat. Nurtured by cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties, India’s ties with Mauritius set a standard for bilateral partnership in the region.

Interestingly, while India shared strong historical, religious, and civilisational connections with countries in its immediate neighbourhood, the warmth and trust exuded in India-Mauritius ties are unparalleled. Along with political consensus, both countries deeply honour and celebrate their common heritage. India unfailingly recognises Mauritius's kinship, which is evident in the special invitation as a Guest Country during the G20 presidency and PM Modi’s third term inauguration.

Through the provisioning of defence and maritime assets, the regular deployment of ships and aircraft, conducting joint maritime surveillance, hydrographic surveys, patrolling, bilateral exercises, information sharing and training support, India has emerged as the security provider of Mauritius for securing its large exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Defence and maritime security cooperation is one of the strong pillars of the India-Mauritius bilateral ties.

Reaffirming its role as the first responder, India rendered swift emergency assistance with the deployment of transport aircraft and ships in the aftermath of Cyclone Chido in 2024. During Covid-19, India donated 1 lakh vaccines and later facilitated 2 lakh extradoses on a commercial basis. Navin Ramgoolam flew down to the AIIMS trauma centre for Covid treatment.

India’s role as a time-tested and trusted partner is exemplified by its stellar role in the socio-economic development of Mauritius since its independence. Over the years, countries strengthened the full spectrum of cooperation through regular political exchanges, political exchanges, development partnership, resource development and capacity building, space and climate Change; health and education cooperation; economic and trade Cooperation; digital cooperation; defence and maritime security cooperation; regional and multilateral cooperation, cultural and people to people ties.

India, Mauritius's leading development partner, has successfully implemented high-profile infrastructure projects such as the India-Mauritius Metro Express Project, the New Supreme Court Building, the New ENO Hospital and 956 Socula Housing Units. India is also working on several people-centric ongoing projects such as the Renal Transplant Unit, Forensic Science Laboratory, National Archives and Library and Civil Service College and High Impact Community Development Projects.

As part of capacity building, India agreed to provide customised training for 500 civil servants through the National Centre for Good Governance. India has offered 100 electric buses along with charging infrastructure and pledged to replace a 100 km water pipeline. For the first time, India is extending Lines of Credit for Indian-assisted programs like the construction of the Parliament building and redevelopment of the Ganga Talao Spiritual Sanctuary through Indian rupee. Indeed, reinforcing and symbolising deep cultural connections, PM Modi offered Gangajal from Mahakumbh at Prayagraj into Ganga Talao.

During PM Modi’s visit, countries signed and renewed eight agreements, including promoting the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions, credit facility agreement, cooperation in Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), civil services training, administrative reforms, sharing white shipping information, maritime exploration and curbing money laundering and financial crimes. Leaders inaugurated an institute for public service and innovation named after former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and India handed over a navigational chart on St. Brandom Island prepared by a hydrography survey by the Indian Naval Ship

Rejuvenating space cooperation, India renewed cooperation on the ISRO Telemetry and Tracking Centre in Mauritius and drew up plans to launch an India-Mauritius satellite to help build a resilient disaster preparedness and response system for Mauritius.

PM Modi unveiled India’s maritime vision SAGAR- Security And Growth Across Regions, which closely aligned with the Mauritius Road Map for “Ocean Economy” in 2015 on his first visit to Mauritius. The Ocean Economy, or the Blue Economy of Mauritius, was launched in 2013 to double its economy.   

In 2015, PM Modi formalised a plan to upgrade and develop the island’s infrastructure, including the construction of a port near the existing jetty to install transponder systems to identify the ships transiting the Sea Lines of Communication. Lying along the Mozambique Channel to the West and south-west of Mauritius, India began the construction of an air strip at Agalega capable of housing P-8I aircraft. In February 2024, leaders of both countries inaugurated the airstrip, bolstering India’s Naval presence in the region.

To enhance utilisation of the newly built runway and jetty at Agalega, countries plan to set up National Maritime Information Sharing Centre to enhance maritime domain awareness. Mauritius, a member state of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), is the headquarters for the Indian Ocean Commission, which links Indian Ocean African nations- Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, and Seychelles. Mauritius joined the Colombo Security Conclave in 2022 as the fourth member. Additionally, both countries also work together on international forums like the Global Biofuels Alliance, International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

Mauritius, which stands at the junction of India’s vision SAGAR, Neighbourhood First approach and a commitment to the Global South is a cornerstone for India’s maritime strategy. It has become a vital partner of India’s West Indian Ocean Strategy. Cementing the maritime security cooperation, PM Modi, on his recent visit, advanced MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions, which will serve as a framework for Indian engagements with countries in the Global South.

India signed its ever trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) with an African country, Mauritius, in 2021. India is now exploring the possibilities of making Mauritius the gateway for India’s engagements with Africa and ratified Protocol on Amendment of double taxation avoidance to harmonise transactions as per international standards.

Given its strategic geographical location in the West Indian Ocean, China has been wooing Mauritius to buttress its Indian Ocean standing. Indeed, China signed a trade agreement with Mauritius in 2019, ahead of India and even set up the Mauritius Renminbi Clearing Centre in 2022. Now India is setting up the India Rupee Clearing Centre to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Countries in Mauritius.

Mauritius has been deftly managing its ties with both Asian giants. However, India’s firm support to Mauritius on Chagos has positioned New Delhi as a trusted developmental partner. Reiterating India’s commitment, in a press briefing with PM Navin Ramgoolam, PM Modi said, “In the context of Chagos, we fully respect the sovereignty of Mauritius”. Mauritius thanked PM Modi for his personal support and engagement with global leaders and conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean. PM Modi is the first Indian to receive such honour.

Contingent of Indian Navy, a marching troop of INS Imphal, an Indian helicopter including Akash Ganga skydiving team participated the National Day Parade of Mauritius. Boosting engagement with the Indian Diaspora, New Delhi pledged to cooperate on documenting the Girmitya legacy and announced OCI cards to the seventh-generation Indian descendants.

The India-Mauritius partnership stands as a testament to strategic continuity and the dogged pursuit of countries in nurturing the ties rooted in kinship, values and shared cultural heritage. PM Modi’s momentous visit has infused a new energy into this all-weather partnership.

References

1. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/39159/IndiaMauritius_Joint_Vision_for_an_Enhanced_Strategic_Partnership_March_12_2025
2. https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/39158/List_of_Outcomes__Visit_of_Prime_Minister_to_Mauritius_March_1112_2025
3. https://www.mea.gov.in/media-briefings.htm?dtl/39163/Transcript_of_Special_Briefing_by_MEA_on_Prime_Ministers_State_Visit_to_Mauritius_March_12_2025