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The island nation of Seychelles, strategically located in the context of sea lanes of communication (SLOC), has long been an Indian ally
Sea lines of communication (abbreviated as SLOC) is a term describing the primary maritime routes between ports, used for trade, logistics and naval forces.
INDIAN HELP
Over the last 40 years, India has extended technical cooperation in defence and security sectors. With India’s support, Seychelles has been able to build its own
defence forces.
India’s defence and security cooperation with Seychelles is well-established. In 2017, 11 Indian Naval Ships (INS) visited Seychelles and there have been 8 visits so far this year.
INDIAN SUPPORT
As much as 50 percent of Seychelles military assets are provided by India, which has also trained around 70 percent of the island nation’s military personnel. India
also gave Seychelles Coast Guard a fast track vessel, INS Tarmugli, one Do-228 aircraft, and two Chetak helicopters in 2010.
NOTES
Apart from this, Indian Navy has deployed Dornier’s and helicopters in Seychelles on a regular basis, and PM Modi also launched the first of 32 planned Coastal Radar Surveillance (CRS) stations in Seychelles. India and Seychelles also conduct regular army-army exercise,
termed as LAMITYE, on a biennial basis.
NEW ‘REVISED’ AGREEMENT
It was clarified that the island is still under the sovereignty of Seychelles and that India will not
use the facility in times of war or allow vessels with nuclear capabilities to use the facilities.
Certain clauses related to the capacity of the military structure required modification and some
technical issues such as positioning of jetty also needed amendment.
SEYCHELLE’S CONCERNS
Conflict between India and China
The most important concern as cited by the opposition is Assumption Island’s relative proximity to the Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO world heritage site that is home to the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.
HE DEAL IS DEAD, NOR THE AGREEMENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED
In the future, if President Faure’s coalition is able to secure majority in National Assembly, the agreement will get submitted, ratified and implemented.
WHAT INDIA CAN DO
•India lines up Dornier aircraft for Seychelles
•India is planning to gift a Dornier aircraft to Seychelles and explore trilateral cooperation involving France that will safeguard its strategic interests in the backdrop of
President Danny Faure’s announcement to cancel the project to jointly develop a naval base on Assumption Island ahead of his June 25 Delhi visit.
IS CHINA BEHIND SEYCHELLES’ DECISION ?
•In December 2011, China had announced that it would set up its first military base abroad in Seychelles seeking supplies and recuperating facilities for its naval forces.
•What has alarmed New Delhi is that, according to Indian intelligence reports, there has been a sharp spike in the number of Chinese visitors in Seychelles over the last six years — from about 500 in 2011 to over 15,000 in 2016.
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