Round The World

New Delhi, 29 June 2018

Seychelles Pres Visit

ABATING ASSUMPTION!

By Dr D.K.Giri

(Prof, International Politics, JMI)

The six-day visit of Seychelles President Danny Antoine Rollen Faure put speculation to rest on Assumption Island, to be jointly built with India. This was perhaps the most prized outcome for India of the maiden visit of Seychelles President, who covered four cities-- Ahmadabad, Panaji, Dehradun and New Delhi, since last Friday. Both New Delhi and Victoria, Seychelles capital expressed satisfaction over his successful itinerary.

The visit assumes significance as only weeks before, Faure had announced in the local media that the ‘agreement on Assumption Island’ would not move forward. He said so, apparently, in the face of opposition in his country. For the Agreement to be operational, the National Assembly has to ratify it, as per Seychelles legal procedures. And as Faure's party doesn’t have the majority there, he did not put it for ratification. After his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, both showed optimism in the joint press briefing, abating the assumptions on the future of Island project.

Modi said: “We have agreed to work together on the Assumption Island project based on each other's interest.” In order to deepen bilateralism, he added “we are key strategic partners. We respect core values of our democracies. We share the geo-strategic vision of maintaining peace, security and stability in the Indian Ocean region.” The statement reflected the warmth and depth in the relationship the two countries have had since Seychelles became independent in 1970.

Faure reciprocated the sentiments: “The two countries are equally engaged and will continue to work together on Assumption Island, bearing each other's interest in mind.” The Island is of great strategic importance to India as a base there would enhance its presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and connect it to littorals states. Further, the Island’s proximity to Mozambique Channel will expand India's presence in the region as it could monitor from the base, movement of commercial and military vessels and other naval carries that maybe of concern. Above all, it is crucially strategic for India as China extends its military presence in the area.

As part of defence and security support, India gave a Dronier aircraft to Seychelles. While receiving the aircraft, which will enhance his country’s maritime surveillance, Faure stated “We are a faithful friend, a partner... the aircraft is a proud testimony of India's devotion and commitment towards people of Seychelles.”

Understandably, New Delhi wants Seychelles to be able to monitor its 1.7 m.sq. kms of Exclusive Economic Zone; the Indian Navy has been patrolling the Zone. The Dronier aircraft 228, which is being used heavily by all three wings of our military-- Army, Navy and Air force, will boost Seychelles's capacity for security. The first one was gifted in 2013, and the second was promised by Modi when he visited the Island in 2015. President Faure wanted the delivery of the aircraft delayed till an ‘appropriate’ time and so it will be delivered before 29th June, Seychelles National Day.

In addition to the Dronier, New Delhi extended $100 million under its LOC- Line of Credit Scheme. This soft credit would enable Seychelles to buy technology, services and expertise from India for its development. Faure welcomed the aid and invited Indian businesses for greater investment, at the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) platform saying, “We will make your investment project a functioning enterprise... we value your investments and our country welcomes it.” He added, “We welcome ideas, services and products from India.” It was agreed that India would send experts to Seychelles on deputation in sectors identified by their government.

In order to deepen defence, security and economic cooperation, New Delhi and Victoria signed six MoUs. These included capacity building and development support, cyber security cooperation, renewable energy, Indian assistance for small development projects and sharing of white-shipping information. As a goodwill gesture, Faure donated a pair of Aldabar Tortoise which will be kept at Hyderabad zoo. Interestingly, gifting this unique creature is a part of Seychelles’s diplomacy.

In Panaji, Goa, Danny Faure met Mayor Vithal Chopdekar and discussed twinning of Panaji with Victoria. Twinning is a partly legal and political process to develop two cities alike, and to promote cultural and social links. It was agreed to promote port exchange, maritime security, tourism, fisheries, people-to-people contact and heritage. Perhaps, it will turn out to be perfect twinning between Panaji, an island town of about 40,000 people with Victoria inhabiting 25,000 odd people.

Seychelles is an archipelago comprising 115 Islands off the cost of East Africa, inhabiting less than one lakh of people, around 95,235 as per the latest census. Yet let it be reiterated that it is strategically an important country. That is why Modi during his visit in 2015, to the littoral states of IOR, signed agreements for developing Agalega Island in Mauritius and the Assumption Island. The latter was revised and signed again in 2018. But to New Delhi's concern and disappointment, the Agreement was not taking off, though these visits seem to have cleared the air.

Arguably, New Delhi is re-focusing its attention with greater energy in IOR, for a few developments related to China’s expansionist policy. China has an overseas military Base in Dijbouti; it has taken the Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka on lease for 99 years, has developed maritime partnership with Maldives. Beijing wants to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Malaca, and increase its presence in the IOR, to secure ports and bases. This strategic shift and movements by it have provoked New Delhi, which has stepped up its activities in the region.

New Delhi has cautioned Beijing, the PLAN- People's Liberation Army Navy, that it was “set on the path to becoming a blue water force,” gathering a strategic foot-hold in the IOR. It has vowed to counter it by “actively engaging the countries in the IOR and is doing so in the ‘diplomatic’ and ‘benign’ role of a “security provider” that the US expects of India. In the 2015 Maritime Security Strategy, India is keen on building up its own capability as “a net security provider.” It has supported capacity building for Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles. New Delhi has also sought security co-operation with member countries of ASEAN, the US, and Japan, especially against the background of the South China Sea controversy.

The deliberations with Faure fit into India’s overall strategy in IOR, mainly to deter China’s ambitions in the area. But, sadly, Modi has recently been charmed by the Chinese, apparently at the behest of the Foreign office, whose leadership seems to have some fascination for China. The same pro-China diplomats had led Pt Nehru to over-trust the Chinese, who ‘reciprocated’ it by an outright attack on India. I am afraid Modi is being led in a similar diplomatic naiveté in regard to China. If Modi cannot avoid such diplomatic trap, oxymoronically, well intentioned it may be, how can countries like Maldives or Seychelles withstand it? ---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)