Key facts
- Modi addressed Seychelles Parliament during state visit
- Declared India's vision: make Indian Ocean an 'Ocean of Opportunity'
- Highlighted climate change impact on small island nations
- Visit part of India's Indian Ocean maritime diplomacy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Parliament of Seychelles during a state visit, articulating India's strategic vision for the Indian Ocean region. Calling for the waters to be seen as an 'Ocean of Opportunity', Modi declared that the Indian Ocean 'connects us, not separates us' — a pointed articulation of India's neighbourhood-first maritime policy.
Modi also highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on small island developing states like Seychelles, pledging India's solidarity with nations that face existential threats from rising sea levels and extreme weather. The address positioned India as a reliable partner in both security and sustainable development.
The visit is part of a broader Indian diplomatic push in the Indian Ocean — a region where China's growing naval presence and infrastructure investments have made strategic partnerships increasingly significant. New Delhi has been deepening ties with Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka and other island nations as part of its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine.
For India, the Seychelles visit reinforces a message that New Delhi sees the Indian Ocean as its extended strategic neighbourhood. The outcome of such diplomatic engagements — in terms of port access, maritime surveillance and bilateral cooperation — has long-term implications for India's security and economic interests.