Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the first Indian Prime Minister to address the Seychelles Parliament. In his statements, he stressed the importance of stability and security in the region, highlighting how the Indian Ocean serves as a bridge that brings together the two maritime partners.
In his address to the 8th National Assembly of Seychelles, Prime Minister Modi, who is on a state visit to the island nation, stressed the “indivisibility” of the region’s security.
“As maritime neighbours, we realize that the security of one party increases the security of the other. The prosperity of one party contributes to the prosperity of the other. Stability of the region benefits us all,” Prime Minister Modi asserted.
“Our cooperation on maritime security and capacity building reflects our shared commitment to making the Indian Ocean region safer and more secure,” he added.
He further highlighted the strong historical similarity regarding India’s unwavering support for Seychelles’ sovereignty.
“Fifty years ago, at the dawn of your independence, the Indian Navy ship INS Nilgiri was stationed at Port Victoria as a sign of friendship and solidarity. Today, as you celebrate your golden jubilee, INS Ikshak and INS Tarkash are docked at Port Victoria,” Prime Minister Modi said, noting that despite the passage of five decades, India’s commitment has not changed.
Read also: ‘We will stand by you as friends’: PM Modi invokes mutual ties in Seychelles Parliament speech
Seychelles gained independence from Great Britain on June 29, 1976, ending more than 160 years of British administration. France claimed sovereignty over these islands in 1756 and called them Seychelles. They later surrendered to the British in 1810 and were formally ceded in the Treaty of Paris in 1814. In 1903, Seychelles became a separate colony of the British Crown.
In his address to Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said: “Seychelles was the first country in the Indian Ocean region that I visited as Prime Minister in 2015… I came here because I believe that Seychelles held a special place in India’s vision of the Indian Ocean. When I return here after a decade, this conviction is stronger than ever. I am delighted to join you as you celebrate 50 years of your independence.”
He stressed that “the Indian Ocean is inseparable, but rather connects India and Seychelles.”
Prime Minister Modi praised the island nation’s unique identity and deep cultural entanglement with India.
“Seychelles’ greatest strength is its people. Over the generations, people from all over the world have arrived here. They have brought with them different languages, customs, beliefs and traditions, and together they have built a common identity that is proud to be Seychellois. The motto of your National Association says ‘Unity in Diversity’. This can be heard in the melodies of Creole music and seen in the rhythm of the Motia dance during the Creole Festival, when the nation celebrates the richness of its heritage,” he said.
Highlighting the “Creole spirit”, Prime Minister Modi said, “The connections between our cultures are evident in everyday life. It can be felt in the flavors of karaoke, samosas and chutneys. It can be found in Deepavali celebrations, Thai Pongal, and the Garba dance during Navratri. It is this Creole spirit that gives us great confidence in the future of our friendship.”
Prime Minister Modi also expressed his deep appreciation to the Seychelles Defense Forces and Coast Guard, praising their professionalism in protecting their maritime domain and the wider Indian Ocean region.
He reiterated that India’s cooperation in maritime security, capacity building and hydrography is not just a policy, but a reflection of a shared commitment to a “safer and more secure Indian Ocean Region”.
Moreover, he said, when people look at a map, they may see Seychelles as a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, but we see something much bigger, we see a nation whose horizons extend far beyond its shores.
Pointing out that the island nation’s maritime area extends over 1.4 million square kilometers in the western Indian Ocean, Prime Minister Modi stated that this makes Seychelles “not a small island nation but a large ocean nation.”
Prime Minister Modi will pay a three-day state visit to Seychelles from June 27 to 29 at the invitation of President Patrick Herminie
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to attend Seychelles’ Golden Jubilee National Day celebrations as guest of honour, marking 50 years of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1976. (ANI)
