New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles, Barry Faure, convened on Tuesday to reaffirm the mutual dedication of both nations towards enhancing defence cooperation.

The Defence Secretary also held discussions with Major General Michael Anselme Marc Rosette, Chief of Seychelles Defence Forces, as stated by an official communique.

During their discussions, the two parties evaluated the expanding defence and security collaboration and reiterated their commitment to boosting bilateral interactions, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and security in the Indian Ocean Region.

Additionally, both parties expressed enthusiasm for the forthcoming joint military exercise, LAMITYE - 2026, which will take place between the Indian Defence Forces and the Seychelles Defence Forces, alongside initiatives aimed at capacity building, agreeing to further broaden the scope and depth of these collaborations.

Topics such as training cooperation, hydrography, ship and aircraft visits, defence delegation exchanges, and maritime security were also part of the discussions.

The Defence Secretary welcomed the participation of the Seychelles delegation in the upcoming International Fleet Review and the 2026 edition of the exercise Milan in Visakhapatnam next week.

Further discussions included MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), which is India’s vision for a cooperative and sustainable security framework across various regions.

They emphasized the necessity of a joint strategy to confront shared challenges, especially in the maritime sector, capacity building, and development collaborations.

India and Seychelles explored potential future pathways for defence and security cooperation, focusing on sustained collaboration through long-term partnerships for the modernization of key military capabilities.

On Monday, Seychelles President Patrick Herminie expressed gratitude for India’s support regarding the archipelago's development, security needs, and aspirations via Lines of Credit (LoCs), grants, capacity building, and High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP).

In his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both leaders agreed to collaborate closely on digital transformation.

Recognizing the need for Seychelles to digitize governance for the benefit of its citizens, India committed to assisting in the establishment of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including digital payments, tailored to Seychelles' requirements.