Modi hands over ‘Made in India’ vessel to Seychelles, Pg6

Key Highlights:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over a 'Made in India' Fast Patrol Vessel, PS LESPWAR, to the Seychelles Coast Guard.
• The ceremony took place in Victoria, Seychelles, during PM Modi's three-day visit to the archipelago.
• The vessel aims to enhance Seychelles' maritime surveillance and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) patrol capabilities.
• India also provided six ambulances, 10 utility vehicles, and five laser radial boats to Seychelles.
• This initiative reinforces the defence partnership between the two nations under India's Vision MAHASAGAR.

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Detailed Insights:

• The handover underscores India's commitment to strengthening the maritime security of its partners in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
• Seychelles holds a crucial strategic position in the western Indian Ocean, vital for maritime security, combating piracy, and securing sea lanes.
• India's assistance aligns with its role as a preferred security partner and first responder in its maritime neighbourhood.
• The enhanced EEZ patrol capabilities will help Seychelles monitor its vast maritime territory and counter threats like illegal fishing and narcotics trafficking.
• This cooperation reflects a long-standing partnership, with India consistently supporting Seychelles in building its maritime capabilities and domain awareness.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Vision MAHASAGAR: An acronym for "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions," it is India's maritime doctrine launched in 2025, expanding on the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) framework to encompass the wider Global South and Indian Ocean region through security, development, and cooperation.
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): An area of the sea extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal state, within which the state has sovereign rights for exploring, exploiting, conserving, and managing natural resources, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).