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Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan began a four-day visit to Mauritius on Monday to strengthen bilateral maritime and defence cooperation with the strategically located Indian Ocean island nation.
Swaminathan is scheduled to hold talks with senior Mauritian leaders on maritime security, defence cooperation, capacity building and military collaboration, the Indian Navy said.
The visit comes as India steps up engagement with Mauritius as part of its broader maritime outreach in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
“The visit is part of India’s continued engagement to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation and deepen defence ties with Mauritius, an extremely valued partner in the Indian Ocean Region,” the Navy said.
India and Mauritius have maintained close maritime cooperation, with the Indian Navy regularly engaging the Mauritius National Coast Guard in training programmes, joint surveillance of the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, port visits and hydrographic surveys.
Mauritius also participates 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 for maritime cooperation with countries of the Global South.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the MAHASAGAR vision – “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions” – during his visit to Mauritius in March 2025.
The Navy said Swaminathan’s visit, his first to Mauritius after assuming charge as Chief of the Naval Staff, underlines the priority India attaches to its longstanding partnership with the island nation.
The partnership is anchored in mutual trust and cooperation, with maritime security, regional stability and capacity building emerging as key areas of engagement in the Indian Ocean.
Team BharatShakti
