Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Seychelles marked a notable expansion of India’s defence diplomacy in the Indian Ocean region.At a ceremony at the Seychelles Coast Guard base, PM Modi handed over the fast patrol vessel Lespwar — which means “hope” in Creole.India also donated ten utility vehicles, five laser‑radial boats and six ambulances.These assets are intended to strengthen Seychelles’ maritime security and improve its ability to respond to regional challenges.India has also announced the return of four military advisers to Seychelles, reviving a programme that had been discontinued earlier.The move reinforces India’s role as a net security provider in the region and forms part of New Delhi’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) initiative, integrating India more deeply into Seychelles’ security architecture at a time when the Indian Ocean is becoming an increasingly contested geopolitical space.The equipment transfer follows a broader pattern of India building defence capacity among neighbouring and partner states.Vietnam received the INS Kirpan corvette in 2023; Myanmar was gifted a Kilo‑class submarine in 2020; and the Maldives has received patrol vessels and landing craft over the years.Mauritius has long been supported with patrol boats and seaward‑defence craft, while Mozambique has been supplied fast interceptor boats in batches.Sri Lanka has received offshore patrol vessels, personal watercraft and military equipment for peacekeeping missions.These transfers underscore India’s role as a net security provider.By supplying Made‑in‑India defence equipment, New Delhi is strengthening partner capabilities, building goodwill and reinforcing its strategic presence across the Indian Ocean. Emphasising indigenous suppliers also channels benefits to India’s defence industry.The handover of Lespwar to Seychelles illustrates India’s longer‑term strategy of empowering neighbouring states with modern equipment. Deepening defence ties helps foster collective security in a region increasingly shaped by geopolitical uncertainty.
