Port Louis, Aug 2026 : India and Mauritius have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation, defence capacity building and operational coordination in the Indian Ocean Region during a meeting between Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
Admiral Swaminathan, who is on a four-day official visit to Mauritius from August 10 to 13, met Prime Minister Ramgoolam on August 12 as part of efforts to further consolidate the longstanding maritime partnership between the two countries. India’s High Commissioner to Mauritius, Anurag Srivastava, was also present during the meeting.
The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Mauritius National Coast Guard, with particular emphasis on maritime security, training exchanges, information sharing, capacity building and operational linkages. The two sides discussed measures aimed at improving interoperability and enabling more effective and coordinated responses to emerging maritime challenges.
During the interaction, Admiral Swaminathan assured Prime Minister Ramgoolam of India’s continued support for strengthening the capabilities of the Mauritius Police Force and the National Coast Guard. The Indian Navy conveyed its readiness to provide assistance, cooperation and expertise in capacity-building programmes aimed at enhancing Mauritius’ maritime security capabilities.
The engagement forms part of India’s broader maritime outreach under the MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. The framework seeks to promote collective security, sustainable development and closer cooperation among countries across the Indian Ocean and the wider region.
The Indian Navy has maintained extensive operational engagement with Mauritius over the years. Cooperation includes training exchanges, joint surveillance of Mauritius’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), operational interactions, port visits and hydrographic surveys. These activities have contributed to strengthening Mauritius’ ability to monitor its maritime domain and respond to security challenges.
Admiral Swaminathan also held meetings with senior Mauritian officials on August 11. His discussions with Rampersad Sooroojebally, Commissioner of Police of the Mauritius Police Force, and Kan Oye Fong Weng-Poorun, Secretary for Home and Defence Affairs of the Government of Mauritius, covered a range of issues related to maritime security.
The talks included joint EEZ surveillance, strengthening operational linkages and expanding capacity-building initiatives. Such cooperation assumes importance as Indian Ocean countries seek to improve maritime domain awareness and collectively address challenges ranging from illegal fishing and trafficking to other threats affecting maritime commerce and security.
Mauritius has also emerged as a consistent partner in several Indian Navy-led multilateral initiatives. The country participates in platforms and exercises including the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), MILAN, International Fleet Review, Goa Maritime Conclave, IOS SAGAR and Exercise AIKEYME. These engagements provide opportunities for naval forces and maritime agencies to improve coordination and develop common approaches to regional security.
The visit is particularly significant as it is Admiral Swaminathan’s first official visit to Mauritius since assuming charge as Chief of the Naval Staff. It underlines the importance India attaches to its relationship with Mauritius, a strategically located island nation in the western Indian Ocean.
Beyond defence and security, India-Mauritius relations encompass economic, infrastructure and development cooperation. A major initiative agreed upon in June 2026 is a $1 billion container terminal project aimed at developing Port Louis into a major transhipment hub. The proposed investment is expected to strengthen Mauritius’ maritime infrastructure and enhance its role in regional logistics and trade.
The economic and maritime initiatives complement India’s security engagement with Mauritius, creating a broader partnership covering defence, connectivity, trade and capacity building. For India, stronger cooperation with Mauritius also contributes to its wider objective of maintaining a secure, stable and rules-based Indian Ocean Region.
The latest high-level discussions therefore reflect more than routine defence engagement. They underline the growing strategic importance of maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean and India’s emphasis on empowering regional countries through training, technology, information sharing and operational cooperation.
Admiral Swaminathan’s visit is expected to further strengthen the institutional and operational foundations of India-Mauritius maritime cooperation, while reinforcing the two countries’ shared commitment to regional stability, security and sustainable growth under the MAHASAGAR vision.
