India-Seychelles defence partnership: A trusted maritime alliance anchoring security in the Indian Ocean
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on his State Visit to Seychelles from June 27-29, 2026, the two countries are set to reaffirm one of the Indian Ocean region’s most enduring strategic partnerships. While the relationship spans development cooperation, capacity building, healthcare and people-to-people ties, defence and maritime security remain among its strongest pillars.
Over the past two decades, India and Seychelles have steadily expanded their defence cooperation, evolving from traditional military engagement into a comprehensive security partnership focused on safeguarding the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR). From gifting patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft to conducting joint military exercises, hydrographic surveys and maritime domain awareness initiatives, India has emerged as one of Seychelles’ closest security partners.
A Strategic Maritime Partnership
Seychelles occupies a crucial position in the western Indian Ocean, making it an important partner in ensuring maritime security, combating piracy, preventing illegal fishing, and securing vital sea lanes.
India’s maritime vision, articulated through Vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), places Seychelles among its most important Indian Ocean partners. The cooperation reflects India’s broader commitment to promoting a free, open, inclusive and secure maritime region while strengthening the capacities of friendly island nations.
Building Maritime Infrastructure
One of the earliest milestones in bilateral defence cooperation came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2015 visit to Seychelles, when both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Hydrography.
Following the agreement, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Darshak visited Seychelles between November and December 2015 to conduct hydrographic surveys of Victoria Port and surrounding waters. These surveys improved nautical charts and navigational safety, strengthening maritime infrastructure and facilitating safer commercial and naval operations.
Hydrographic cooperation has since become a key component of India’s support in enhancing Seychelles’ maritime capabilities.
Strengthening Coastal Security
India has consistently helped Seychelles improve its maritime surveillance capabilities.
In 2015, India gifted and installed six Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems across Seychelles, significantly enhancing the island nation’s ability to monitor its coastline and surrounding waters. These radar systems continue to form an important part of Seychelles’ coastal security network and are currently being repaired and upgraded with Indian assistance.
The radar network has substantially improved maritime domain awareness by enabling authorities to detect suspicious vessels, monitor maritime traffic and respond more effectively to security threats.
Expanding the Seychelles Coast Guard Fleet
A defining feature of the bilateral defence relationship has been India’s continued assistance in strengthening the operational capabilities of the Seychelles Coast Guard.
India gifted patrol boats PS Topaz in 2005 and PS Constant in 2014, both of which have played vital roles in maritime patrolling, anti-piracy operations and coastal surveillance.
In 2016, India further strengthened Seychelles’ maritime fleet by gifting the Indian Coast Guard Fast Interceptor Boat C-405, which was rechristened PB Hermes after commissioning into the Seychelles Coast Guard.
Building on this cooperation, India presented its replacement vessel, PB Boudeuse, to Seychelles in February 2025. The vessel was commissioned in the presence of Seychelles’ President and Vice President, symbolising the continued commitment of both countries to maritime security.
Another major addition came in April 2021 when India handed over the Fast Patrol Vessel SCG PS Zoroaster to the Seychelles Coast Guard. The vessel has significantly enhanced Seychelles’ capability to undertake coastal patrols, search and rescue operations, fisheries protection and anti-smuggling missions.
In May 2022, India also gifted two ceremonial guns along with ammunition to Seychelles at the request of its government.
Enhancing Maritime Surveillance
Airborne surveillance has become another important area of defence cooperation.
India gifted the first Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to Seychelles in 2013, followed by a second aircraft in June 2018.
These aircraft have considerably expanded Seychelles’ maritime reconnaissance capabilities by enabling aerial surveillance across its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), helping combat illegal fishing, piracy, narcotics trafficking and other maritime crimes.
Joint Military Exercises Grow Stronger
The India-Seychelles military exercise LAMITYE, meaning “Friendship” in Creole, has become the flagship defence engagement between the two nations.
Since its inception, eleven editions of the biennial exercise have been conducted, with the latest edition taking place in Victoria from March 9 to 20, 2026.
The 11th edition marked an important milestone as it became the first tri-service edition, bringing together personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force of both countries.
The expanded format reflected the growing complexity of maritime security challenges and the increasing interoperability between the two defence forces.
The exercises focus on counter-insurgency operations, counter-terrorism drills, maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, joint operational planning, and special operations training.
LAMITYE has evolved into an important platform for professional exchanges and operational coordination.
Naval Diplomacy Through Port Visits
Indian naval deployments to Seychelles have become increasingly frequent, underscoring India’s role as a reliable maritime partner.
Over the past three years alone, several Indian naval ships have visited Port Victoria:
* INS Trishul participated in Seychelles’ National Day celebrations in June 2023, with its marching contingent taking part in the parade while an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) joined the ceremonial fly-past.
* INS Sunayna visited Seychelles twice in 2023 and 2024. During the June 2024 visit, the ship participated in the country’s 48th National Day celebrations, with its marching contingent and naval band joining the parade. The ship also conducted a special Advanced Light Helicopter demonstration for Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan and Vice President Ahmed Afif.
* INS Sunayna also visited under Operation Southern Readiness as part of the Combined Maritime Forces initiative.
* INS Sharda visited Seychelles in November 2023 to participate in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise IMEX-23.
* The First Training Squadron, led by INS Tir, visited between February and March 2024 to participate in Exercise Cutlass Express while also delivering serviced Dornier aircraft engines and critical spares to the Seychelles Coast Guard.
* India’s frontline stealth frigate INS Tushil made its maiden operational visit to Port Victoria in February 2025.
Expanding Multinational Maritime Cooperation
India’s growing maritime engagement with Seychelles increasingly reflects broader regional cooperation.
A significant example was the visit of IOS SAGAR to Port Victoria in May 2025. The vessel carried an international crew comprising personnel from nine friendly countries, including four officers from the Seychelles Defence Forces.
The mission demonstrated India’s vision of collaborative maritime security and regional capacity building.
Another landmark event was the visit of IASV Triveni, carrying an all-women tri-services crew from the Indian Armed Forces as part of the Samudra Pradakshina expedition. The visit highlighted India’s emphasis on women’s leadership within defence and maritime diplomacy.
Seychelles Participates in Indian Naval Exercises
The defence partnership is increasingly reciprocal.
In February 2026, Seychelles Coast Guard vessel PS Zoroaster participated in Exercise MILAN and the International Fleet Review hosted by India in Visakhapatnam.
Following the exercise, the vessel proceeded to Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, for a complimentary refit provided by India, reflecting the depth of bilateral defence cooperation.
Defence Industry Collaboration
India has also expanded cooperation beyond operational engagements to defence manufacturing and technology.
The Bharat Seychelles Seminar on Indian Defence Equipment (SIDE), held in Victoria in March 2024, brought together nine Indian defence manufacturers who showcased a wide range of equipment relevant to Seychelles’ defence requirements.
The seminar opened new avenues for future collaboration in defence procurement, maintenance and indigenous capability development.
Combating Emerging Maritime Threats
The partnership has acquired greater strategic importance against the backdrop of evolving maritime challenges.
The western Indian Ocean has witnessed increasing threats from piracy, illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking and other transnational crimes.
India’s assistance in surveillance, naval training, hydrography, radar systems and capacity building has enabled Seychelles to better monitor its vast maritime territory and respond effectively to these emerging threats.
A Partnership Built on Trust
Unlike many security partnerships driven solely by strategic calculations, India-Seychelles defence cooperation is underpinned by decades of trust, shared interests and mutual respect.
India has consistently responded to Seychelles’ requests for capacity building without imposing conditions, making it one of the island nation’s most dependable defence partners.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Seychelles for the first time in over a decade, defence cooperation is expected to remain a central pillar of bilateral discussions. With maritime security assuming increasing significance in the Indo-Pacific, both countries are likely to further deepen collaboration in naval cooperation, defence infrastructure, surveillance, maritime domain awareness and capacity building.
The partnership not only enhances Seychelles’ security capabilities but also contributes to peace, stability and sustainable development across the wider Indian Ocean Region, reinforcing India’s role as a trusted security partner and first responder in its maritime neighbourhood.
