PM Modi, Seychelles President agree Indian Ocean security is shared responsibility
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie declared the Indian Ocean a shared home, committing to joint responsibility for its security, sustainability, and prosperity — reinforcing India's SAGAR doctrine and deepening bilateral maritime ties.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi and Seychelles President Dr.
Patrick Herminie agreed the Indian Ocean is a shared home requiring collective responsibility.
India's vision links maritime security directly with economic prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region .
The partnership builds on India's long-standing SAGAR ( Security and Growth for All in the Region ) doctrine, launched in 2015 .
Seychelles controls an Exclusive Economic Zone of over 1.3 million square kilometres , making it a strategically vital partner for India .
The Indian Ocean carries approximately 80 per cent of global seaborne oil trade, underlining the region's strategic importance.
The bilateral alignment is expected to advance coast guard cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and blue economy development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 28 June 2026 stated that he and Dr. Patrick Herminie, President of Seychelles, share a common vision for the Indian Ocean — one rooted in collective responsibility for its security, sustainability, and prosperity. The statement came as the two leaders aligned on a partnership framework centred on the ocean that connects their two nations.
Context
In his post on X, PM Modi wrote that he and Dr. Herminie 'agree that the Indian Ocean is our shared home and therefore, its security, sustainability and prosperity are our shared responsibility.' He outlined an Indian vision for the ocean where 'maritime security advances alongside economic prosperity.' The statement signals a deepening of bilateral ties between India and Seychelles, two nations whose strategic and economic interests are closely tied to the health and stability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Policy Backdrop
India has for over a decade positioned itself as a 'Net Security Provider' in the Indian Ocean Region, a doctrine first articulated under PM Modi and operationalised through frameworks such as SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region — launched in 2015. Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, has been one of India's closest maritime partners, with cooperation spanning hydrography, coast guard operations, and infrastructure development. India has previously assisted Seychelles in constructing an airstrip and jetty on Assumption Island, a project of significant strategic value given the island's location near key shipping lanes.
The Indian Ocean carries roughly 80 per cent of the world's seaborne oil trade and is a critical artery for global commerce. Ensuring freedom of navigation, suppressing piracy, and managing non-traditional threats such as climate-driven sea-level rise have become central to regional diplomacy. India's engagement with small island states like Seychelles is also seen as a counterweight to expanding Chinese naval presence in the ocean.
Stakeholders and Impact
Seychelles, with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of over 1.3 million square kilometres, depends heavily on a stable and secure ocean for its fisheries sector and tourism economy. For India, the partnership reinforces its role as a preferred security partner for island nations in the IOR, ahead of competing powers. The emphasis on linking maritime security with economic prosperity also resonates with India's broader push to integrate development assistance with strategic presence in the region.
The reference to a 'shared home' carries diplomatic weight — it frames the Indian Ocean not as a contested space but as a commons governed by mutual obligation, a framing India has consistently advanced in multilateral forums including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Colombo Security Conclave.
What's Next
The alignment between PM Modi and Dr. Herminie is expected to translate into concrete bilateral deliverables, potentially including expanded coast guard cooperation, joint maritime domain awareness initiatives, and development finance for Seychelles' blue economy. As India continues to build its network of maritime partnerships across the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles relationship serves as a template for combining strategic depth with development diplomacy — a model likely to be replicated with other small island states in the region.
Point of View
Making the partnership more palatable for smaller island states wary of great-power competition. The explicit linkage of maritime security with economic prosperity mirrors India's SAGAR doctrine and signals that New Delhi is doubling down on a model that combines strategic presence with development dividends. At a time when Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean is intensifying, deepening ties with Seychelles — a node of geographic significance near key shipping lanes — carries clear strategic logic. The Modi-Herminie alignment suggests India is methodically building a coalition of Indian Ocean states around shared norms before any formal multilateral architecture is tested.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did PM Modi and Seychelles President agree on regarding the Indian Ocean?
PM Modi and Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie agreed that the Indian Ocean is their shared home and that its security, sustainability, and prosperity are a shared responsibility of both nations.
What is India's SAGAR policy for the Indian Ocean?
SAGAR stands for 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' — a doctrine launched by PM Modi in 2015 that positions India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region while linking strategic engagement with development assistance for partner nations.
Why is Seychelles important to India strategically?
Seychelles controls an Exclusive Economic Zone of over 1.3 million square kilometres near critical Indian Ocean shipping lanes. India has invested in infrastructure on Assumption Island and maintains coast guard and hydrographic cooperation with Seychelles, making it a key node in India's Indian Ocean strategy.
Who is Dr. Patrick Herminie?
Dr. Patrick Herminie is the President of Seychelles, an archipelago nation of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. He met with PM Modi to discuss bilateral maritime cooperation and a shared vision for the Indian Ocean Region.
What is India's role in Indian Ocean security?
India has positioned itself as the preferred 'Net Security Provider' in the Indian Ocean Region, engaging through frameworks like SAGAR, the Indian Ocean Rim Association, and the Colombo Security Conclave to promote maritime safety, freedom of navigation, and regional economic development.
