India, Seychelles agree 'to work together on' Assumption Island naval facility
Modi-Faure
India and Seychelles had agreed to India building a naval facility on the Seychelles' Assumption Island in 2015, but the deal has not moved forward because the Seychelles opposition has refused to ratify it
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Danny Faure said Monday that they had agreed "to work together on" the Assumption Island project.
Modi and Faure made a joint statement in Delhi today after talks between them.
"We have agreed to work together on the Assumption Island project based on each other's rights," PTI reported Modi as saying.
PTI quoted Faure as saying the Assumption Island project was discussed and that the two countries were equally engaged in working together bearing each other's interests in mind.
India and Seychelles had agreed to India building a naval facility on the Seychelles' Assumption Island in 2015, but the deal has not moved forward because the Seychelles opposition has refused to ratify it.
President Danny Faure recently told WION that the deal would not move forward.
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So, just the statement that India and the Seychelles have agreed "to work together on" the project assumes significance.
The Assumption Island facility would have given India a strategic advantage in the Indian Ocean region at a time when the India-China rivalry in the area is gaining pace. China has been massively increasing its influence in the Indian Ocean region.
Last year, China inaugurated its first overseas military base in Djibouti, near one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The Maldives has already fallen into Bejing's orbit and with Gwadar port in Pakistan and Hambantota in Sri Lanka, China has almost ringed India in the Indian Ocean region.
India on Monday also announced a US $100-million credit to Seychelles for augmenting its defence capabilities.
"With this credit, Seychelles will be able to buy defence equipment to boost its maritime capacity," Modi said in his joint media statement with Faure.
Faure had landed in Gujarat on Friday as part of a six-day India tour. After visiting Ahmedabad and Goa, he arrived in Delhi yesterday.
(With inputs from PTI)