Seychelles Defence Chief to attend India strategic programme in New Delhi
Synopsis
Seychelles' top military officer and a senior cabinet official are heading to New Delhi for a two-week strategic engagement programme — the latest move in a rapidly deepening India-Seychelles defence partnership that has already seen repaired Dornier aircraft units, calibrated tools, and five laser radial boats transferred this year alone.
Key Takeaways
Colonel Michael Hollanda , Chief of Staff of the Seychelles Defence Forces , and Angela Payet , Deputy Cabinet Secretary, will attend a two-week International Strategic Engagement Programme in New Delhi .
Last month, India handed over 3 repaired Dornier MEUs , 18 sets of calibrated aircraft tools , 50 safety helmets , and seamanship ropes to the SDF — all repaired free of cost by Indian Naval facilities.
In August 2026 , India delivered five laser radial boats to the SDF, fulfilling a pledge made by PM Narendra Modi during his June 2026 state visit to Seychelles.
The Dornier fleet supports EEZ surveillance , CASEVAC , and SAR operations for the Seychelles Air Force .
The engagement reflects India's SAGAR doctrine of building maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region .
Colonel Michael Hollanda, Chief of Staff of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), and Angela Payet, Deputy Cabinet Secretary, will travel to New Delhi for a two-week International Strategic Engagement Programme, the Indian High Commission in Seychelles announced on Sunday, 20 September 2026. The programme, focused on security and strategy, marks the latest step in a deepening bilateral defence relationship between India and Seychelles.
About the Strategic Engagement Programme
The two-week programme in New Delhi will expose senior Seychellois officials to India's security frameworks and strategic thinking. The Indian High Commission described it as part of ongoing efforts to 'strengthen India-Seychelles defence and strategic ties.' Both Colonel Hollanda, in his capacity as the SDF's top military officer, and Payet, representing the civil side of national security governance, will participate — signalling a whole-of-government approach from the Seychellois side.
Recent Defence Equipment Transfers
The visit follows a series of significant materiel handovers in recent months. Last month, Defence Adviser Captain Shravan Sareen handed over to Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, SDF, a package that included three repaired Dornier Main Electronic Units (MEUs), 18 sets of calibrated specialised aircraft tools, 50 safety helmets, and seamanship ropes. According to the Indian mission, Indian Naval facilities repaired and calibrated the items free of cost.
The Dornier aircraft are central to the Seychelles Air Force's operations, including Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance, CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation), and SAR (Search and Rescue) missions. The High Commission noted that the repaired units would enable in-house testing and faster turnaround repairs for the fleet. The safety and seamanship gear is expected to elevate personnel safety and operational readiness of the Seychelles Coast Guard.
Laser Radial Boats Delivered Under Modi's Pledge
Earlier in August 2026, India's High Commissioner to Seychelles Rohit Rathish handed over five laser radial boats to the SDF chief, fulfilling a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his state visit to the island nation in June 2026. The boats are intended to build seamanship skills among SDF personnel. The High Commissioner described the delivery as reflecting 'India's steadfast commitment to strengthening the capacities and capabilities of the SDF.'
Broader Context: India's Indian Ocean Strategy
The stepped-up engagement with Seychelles fits within India's broader SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which prioritises maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region. Seychelles, as a small island state commanding a vast EEZ in the western Indian Ocean, holds strategic value for both maritime surveillance and anti-piracy operations. This is the latest in a consistent pattern of India deepening its defence footprint across island nations — from Maldives to Mauritius to Seychelles — as geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean intensifies.
With the strategic engagement programme now underway and additional equipment transfers recently completed, the India-Seychelles defence partnership appears set to expand further in the months ahead.
Point of View
Calibrated tools, safety gear, and now boats — points to a relationship that has moved well beyond symbolic goodwill. What is less visible is whether Seychelles' own institutional capacity is growing fast enough to absorb and sustain this equipment. Free repairs are generous; the harder question is whether in-house maintenance capability is being built alongside. For India, Seychelles is not merely a partner — it is a forward node in the Indian Ocean, and each handover is as much a strategic positioning move as it is bilateral generosity.
NationPress
20 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the International Strategic Engagement Programme that Seychelles officials are attending in New Delhi?
It is a two-week programme hosted in New Delhi focused on security and strategy, aimed at deepening defence and strategic ties between India and Seychelles. Both the Seychelles Defence Forces Chief of Staff and a senior civil official are participating in the current edition.
What defence equipment did India recently hand over to Seychelles?
India handed over three repaired Dornier Main Electronic Units, 18 sets of calibrated specialised aircraft tools, 50 safety helmets, and seamanship ropes, all repaired and calibrated free of cost by Indian Naval facilities. These support Seychelles Air Force Dornier operations including EEZ surveillance and search-and-rescue missions.
What were the five laser radial boats handed over to Seychelles?
Five laser radial boats were delivered to the Seychelles Defence Force in August 2026 by India's High Commissioner Rohit Rathish, fulfilling a commitment made by PM Modi during his June 2026 state visit. The boats are designed to build seamanship skills among SDF personnel.
Why is the India-Seychelles defence relationship significant?
Seychelles commands a large Exclusive Economic Zone in the western Indian Ocean, giving it strategic importance for maritime surveillance and anti-piracy operations. India's engagement is part of its broader SAGAR doctrine of building maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region amid rising geopolitical competition.
Who handed over the defence equipment to the Seychelles Defence Forces?
Defence Adviser Captain Shravan Sareen handed over the Dornier units and tools to Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces, SDF. High Commissioner Rohit Rathish separately handed over the five laser radial boats in August 2026.
