Navy Chief Swaminathan Meets Mauritius PM, Discusses Strengthening Maritime Security Cooperation
Admiral Krishna Swaminathan assures Mauritius of India's support for coast guard capacity building, joint surveillance and expanded operational cooperation.
NEW DELHI, Aug 12: Indian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Wednesday met Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and held discussions on expanding maritime security cooperation between India and Mauritius.
Swaminathan is on a four day official visit to Mauritius that began on August 10, aimed at strengthening India’s maritime engagement with the strategically important Indian Ocean island nation.
During his meeting with Ramgoolam, the Navy Chief discussed measures to deepen cooperation in maritime security, training, information sharing, capacity building and operational coordination between the Indian Navy and the Mauritius National Coast Guard.
The Indian Navy said Swaminathan assured the Mauritian Prime Minister of India’s continued support in strengthening the capabilities of the Mauritius Police Force and National Coast Guard.
The Navy Chief’s visit comes as India and Mauritius seek to further enhance coordination to maintain maritime safety and security across the Indian Ocean Region.
On Tuesday, Swaminathan held separate discussions with Mauritius Police Force Commissioner Rampersad Sooroojebally, Secretary for Home and Defence Affairs Kan Oye Fong Weng-Poorun and India’s High Commissioner to Mauritius Anurag Srivastava.
The discussions focused on enhancing maritime security coordination, strengthening the capabilities of the Mauritius National Coast Guard, conducting joint surveillance of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and expanding operational cooperation between the two maritime forces.
India and Mauritius have maintained close maritime ties, with the Indian Navy regularly engaging with the island nation’s coast guard through professional training programmes, coordinated EEZ surveillance, port visits and hydrographic surveys.
Mauritius has also participated in major Indian Navy initiatives, including the MILAN multilateral naval exercise, International Fleet Review and Goa Maritime Conclave.
These engagements form part of India’s broader MAHASAGAR vision, which emphasises mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions and places particular importance on cooperation with countries of the Global South.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the MAHASAGAR vision during his visit to Mauritius in March 2025, further underscoring the strategic importance New Delhi attaches to its partnership with the island nation.
The latest high-level engagement is expected to provide fresh momentum to bilateral maritime cooperation and contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring a secure, stable and resilient Indian Ocean Region.
