India’s Modi to Strengthen Ties with Mauritius and Support Chagos Sovereignty
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is set to visit Mauritius to bolster strategic ties and discuss sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, following U.S. support for negotiations. Modi will meet Prime Minister Ramgoolam during Mauritius’s national day celebrations. The visit reinforces India’s historical support for Mauritius and aims to counter Chinese influence in the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is scheduled to visit Mauritius to enhance strategic relationships, following President Donald Trump’s agreement on a deal between Mauritius and Britain regarding the future of the Chagos Archipelago. Modi will be the guest of honor at Mauritius’s national day and meet with Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, returning for his third term in office as of 2024.
Recently, Trump confirmed support for negotiations concerning the U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia, the main island of the Chagos Archipelago. Since the 1970s, this island has served as a military base, operated jointly by Britain and the U.S. Indian officials view the potential resolution of the Chagos sovereignty issue positively, emphasizing India’s historical support for Mauritius’s claims on the islands while also backing the U.S. presence in the region to counteract China’s influence.
Vikram Misri, India’s foreign secretary, indicated during a press briefing that Modi’s visit would provide an opportunity for Mauritius to address any ongoing concerns, further assuring India’s support for mutual agreements beneficial to both nations. Despite Mauritius’s independence in 1968, Britain maintained control over the Chagos Archipelago, displacing nearly 2,000 residents to establish the military base on Diego Garcia.
Samuel Bashfield, a security expert at the Australia India Institute, posits that maintaining U.S. military presence is strategically advantageous for India against potential Chinese assertiveness. Moreover, India has been instrumental in facilitating the development of Mauritius’s sea and air connections, notably on the Agalega Islands. This enhances India’s strategic presence in the Indian Ocean, with Diego Garcia potentially serving as a temporary operational base for its surveillance aircraft.
A source from Ramgoolam’s office remarked that Mauritius views both India and the U.S. as crucial partners in combating rising Chinese influence in the region, given China’s significant investments in infrastructure across the Indian Ocean, notably in the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Mauritius underscores India’s commitment to strengthening strategic ties while addressing sovereignty issues related to the Chagos Archipelago. The support from the United States regarding this matter further reinforces India’s position against Chinese influence in the region. By enhancing collaboration with Mauritius, India aims to solidify its strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean and counterbalance emerging challenges.
Original Source: gazette.com
