A plot of land for India to build its first naval base in the Indian Ocean region has been allocated by the Seychelles government in the Assumption Island.
Fact Punch
This is a joint project between India and Seychelles involving two Defence Forces in enhancing mutual security along western seaboard.
The project has acquired significance following China acquiring its first African naval base in Djibouti in November. Once ready, the naval base to be built by the defence forces of India, and Seychelles will help India exercise greater control over the Indian Ocean’s western region all the way to the piracy-prone eastern African coastline.
The base will be one of the major staging posts for a large maritime security network that India is setting up with the help of the various Indian Ocean region partner countries.
Apart from the naval base, India is set to acquire a fully operational coastal radar system (CRS) based in Seychelles from March 2016.
Fighting piracy
Security operation in the Indian Ocean region will also be helped by the leadership role that Seychelles has secured for itself in the Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), which will hold its first meeting in Mumbai on January 31, 2016.
Mr. Michel acknowledged that India has been steadily increasing its maritime and security cooperation with Seychelles and that a new patrol vessel from India will be handed over to Seychelles in mid-January 2016.
India, with its strong intelligence network, will also be helpful in maritime law enforcement by Seychelles. While declaring support for India’s maritime security plans, President Michel pointed out that small nations are equally important in the contemporary world order and need to be taken seriously for the sake of preserving the security and order.
Current Affairs: 23rd December, 2015 Important Days in November and December Current Affairs bullet points Round up 15th to 21st December, 2015 Current Affairs Round up November, 2015.
Join The Discussion