16 March 2025, NIICE Commentary 9975
Apurba Sen
In the current era of Geopolitical flux across the Indian Ocean Region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mauritius marked a recognition of the renewed geopolitical significance of the Western Indian Ocean islands for New Delhi. Mauritius is an island nation that sits along vital seaways in the western Indian Ocean. Ties between India and Mauritius are not only bounded by the Indian Ocean, but also by shared culture, traditions, and values, however, the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1948. India-Mauritius relations have enjoyed political consensus, irrespective of the party in power in either country. Over the past decade, however, the government led by Pravind Jugnauth has been more steadfast in prioritizing India, resulting in a flourishing bilateral relationship. The unexpected electoral defeat of Jugnauth’s party in November 2024 and PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam's return to power with a resounding majority necessitate a recalibration of Indo-Mauritian ties. Modi’s swift visit underscores India’s determination to prevent Mauritius from taking a path similar to the recent geopolitical shifts in the Maldives or Sri Lanka, where India’s influence has been challenged by external players, particularly China.
A Historical Bond
Delhi and Port Louis share numerous strong connections, including the significant Indian-origin population in Mauritius, which makes up nearly 70% of its 1.3 million residents. India has had historical connections with the Pacific and Indian Ocean Island countries, Mauritius is an important one among others. This was mostly developed during the colonial period when both India and many of these island countries were under British domination. In the early nineteenth century, many Indian workers were forcibly taken to these island nations by the British colonial authorities. These labourers were promised a bright future but they found themselves in captivity working in the sugar plantations. It is something that PM Modi talked about during his visit, how the British duped Indian laborers, treated them inhumanely, working long hours in poor conditions and they were often beaten and sexually abused. This has led to a significant Indian diasporic population in this country. But in the post-colonial era, this historical connection did not transform into a special interest in these countries by India at the official level. But this has been changing in recent times. The Indian government has slowly come to realize the economic and geo-strategic importance of these island states and has been recalibrating its policy toward these nations accordingly.
Geopolitical Competition in the Indian Ocean Region
The Indian Ocean region has long served as a vital trade arena. Historically, Western powers like Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom recognized the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean and fought for dominance over it. During the British colonisation of the subcontinent, it was called the ‘British Lake’ and then the Indian Ocean witnessed a competition during the Cold War between the US and the USSR. So, there was always one or two powers who controlled the Indian Ocean. What we are seeing in the 21st century is a true sense of competition, where it is not only the traditional powers like the United States, India, United Kingdom, and France but also emerging powers like China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye enhancing their presence in the region. This is very evident as argued by Robert Kaplan (2009) in his essay ‘Centre Stage for the 21st Century: Power Plays in the Indian Ocean’ that “the Indian Ocean will be center stage for the security challenges of the twenty-first century”.
As the region becomes a hotspot for geopolitical competition, India and China have stepped up efforts to build ties with Indian Ocean countries. China's influence on the island has grown remarkably, making it one of the key economic players in Mauritius. Why the Indian Ocean region has emerged as a significant maritime ‘region’ or a center of gravity? It is because of its geopolitical and geoeconomic importance with geostrategic location. It is a vast theatre, stretching from the strait of Malacca and the western coast of Australia in the east to the Mozambique channel in the west. The Indian Ocean is home to three main choke points: the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb, which are strategically important both from economic and political points of view.
Expanding the Ties into ‘Enhance Strategic Partnership’
India has long been the primary security provider and leading development partner of Mauritius. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Port Louis marks another milestone in the deepening partnership between India and Mauritius. While the focus of the visit is clearly maritime security, other issues, particularly health and education have also featured on the agenda. Both countries decided to commit to ensuring a free, open, secure, and safe Indian Ocean region with enhanced naval capacity building and surveillance collaborations. India has been the leading development partner for Mauritius since its independence and has contributed significantly towards its infrastructure and developmental needs in various sectors such as the India-Mauritius Metro Express Project, New Supreme Court Building, New ‘Ear, Nose, and Throat’ (ENT) Hospital, 956 Social Housing Units, and Educational Tablets, among others. Prime Minister Modi along with PM Ramgoolam jointly inaugurated the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Public Service and Innovation in Mauritius. It will serve as a hub for learning, research, and public service.
On the strategic front, India has played a crucial role in developing the Mauritian Coast Guard. Additionally, in February 2024, India inaugurated a new airstrip and jetty at Agalega Island in Mauritius, reflecting its interest in playing the role of a net security provider in the region. PM Modi announced that New Delhi would invest about $11 million in several community development projects and that India will cooperate in building a new parliament for Mauritius, calling it a gift “from the mother of democracy.” Prime Minister Modi has announced the elevation of India's engagement with Mauritius to an ‘Enhance Strategic Partnership’. Additionally, the SAGAR initiative has been expanded into MAHASAGAR—'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions’. This upgraded framework aims to enhance trade-driven development, strengthen capacity building for sustainable growth, and promote mutual security for a shared future in the region.
PM Modi said, “India backs Mauritius’s sovereignty over Chagos island”. This comes after US President Trump’s recent statement that he would support a deal between Mauritius and Great Britain over the future of the United States-United Kingdom base in the Chagos Archipelago, a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean. As a chief guest at Mauritius’s National Day celebration PM Modi was honored with the Nation’s highest civilian award ‘The Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean’. Underlining India’s naval cooperation with Mauritius, an Indian navy contingent participated in the National Day parade, and an Indian warship — the INS Imphal, a stealth guided-missile destroyer and fly passed by helicopter as part of the celebration, demonstrating the strategic and cultural bond between the two nations.
Conclusion
The Indian Ocean is the only ocean in the world named after a coastal country. Thus, while discussing the Indian Ocean’s physical structure, it is hard to overlook India, which is strategically located in the heart of the Indian Ocean. Thus, India considers itself a key regional security player in the region. For India, security in the Indian Ocean is an enabler for growth, so a secure Indian Ocean is paramount for growth in the region. Thus, a strategic partnership with Mauritius, strategically located in the Indian Ocean is pivotal for maritime security. It does not just rest on shared ethnicity, but also on a reliable partnership to strengthen the island nation’s sovereignty. It is a partnership anchored in history, strengthened by shared values, and committed to a prosperous and secure future in the Indian Ocean region.
Apurba Sen is a PhD Research Scholar at the Department of Political Science, University of North Bengal, West Bengal, India.
