Think Tank: India, Mauritius Defence Relations

Mauritius (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons)

The visit of the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee to Mauritius provided a good backdrop for a review of defence and security relations between India and Mauritius who occupy most significant geographic positions in the Indian Ocean Region. In the Press Statement after meeting with the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Shri Pranab Mukherjee outline the continued commitment of Indian support to Mauritius on security issues. Mr Mukherjee thanked the country for consistent support in the UN and also India’s claim to the Security Council. Mr Mukherjee said, “I am also grateful to Mauritius for extending whole-hearted support to the process of revitalising the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)”.  Highlighting the importance of security cooperation in the light of threats in the region  he outlined, “Piracy in the Indian Ocean region adversely impacts us all. We are committed to the safety and security of Mauritius and will continue to work towards enhancing our cooperation in the security arena. Indian Naval ships will continue to undertake joint anti-piracy and EEZ surveillance exercises with their Mauritian counterparts to ensure maritime security in these waters. We are ready to assist the Government and the people of Mauritius, on security-related issues, in accordance with the requirements and priorities of the Government of Mauritius”. 

India and Mauritius have an extensive defence cooperation programme in place. As per the Indian High Commission in Mauritius under the ITEC-II programme, about 45-50 personnel from the Mauritian Police Force are trained annually in Indian Defence Training Establishments. India has been deputing a Diving and a Marine Commando (MARCOS) training team to Mauritius for two-three weeks since 2008 including for three weeks in June-July 2011. The training has benefitted 62 divers and 87 commandos of the Mauritius Police Force so far.

At the request of the Government of Mauritius, Indian Naval Ships regularly undertake surveillance and joint patrolling of the vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Mauritius with a view to provide deterrence to ongoing piracy and illegal fishing activities in the region. INS Savitri (December 2009); INS Trishul (May-June 2010); INS Mysore and INS Tabar (goodwill visit and for surveillance and joint patrolling in October 2010); INS Suvarna (December 2010); and INS Sukanya (March-April 2011) and INS Shardul (June-July 2011) have visited Mauritius for joint patrolling and surveillance operations in the Mauritian EEZ.

Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv which was delivered to the Government of Mauritius in November 2009 was financed by US$ 10.42 million grant. A Coastal Radar Surveillance System (CSRS) which was delivered and subsequently commissioned in April 2011 was financed by a Euro 2.46 million grant. A bilateral Agreement for the Supply of an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) to the Government of Mauritius is currently being implemented with the OPV being designed and constructed by GRSE Ltd. at a cost of US$ 58.5 million. The OPV is funded partly by an EXIM Bank line of credit (US$ 48.5 million) and partly by a grant (US$ 10 million).

Given the importance of Mauritius as a source of FDI in India as well as its strategic location in the Indian Ocean, sustained political, economic and defence relations with the country are anticipated.

Security Risks