VICTORIA — Marking a historic diplomatic milestone, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the National Assembly of Seychelles on June 28, 2026. The address marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has spoken before the island nation’s parliament, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence and over 250 years of shared people-to-people ties.
The Prime Minister’s high-level legislative address focused heavily on regional security, climate justice, and the digital transformation of the Global South.
MAHASAGAR: The Blueprint for Indian Ocean Security
Emphasizing that the Indian Ocean acts as a connector rather than a barrier, Prime Minister Modi reiterated Seychelles’ pivotal position in India’s maritime strategic architecture. He formally linked bilateral defense cooperation to India’s updated regional vision: MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
Strategic Defense Integration:
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Historical Continuity: PM Modi recalled that India’s INS Nilgiri was stationed in Port Victoria at the dawn of Seychelles’ independence fifty years ago. Today, Indian naval vessels INS Tarkash and INS Ikshak are docked to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.
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Capacity Building: India pledged continued technical and operational support for the Seychelles Defence Forces and Coast Guard across hydrography, maritime domain awareness, and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surveillance.
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Large Ocean Country Status: Acknowledging Seychelles’ vast 1.4 million square kilometer maritime domain, India rejected the label of “Small Island State,” redefining the nation as a “Large Ocean Country” at the forefront of the global Blue Economy.
Climate Justice and Advocacy for the Global South
Earlier in the day, President Herminie honored Prime Minister Modi with the “Guardian of the Blue Horizon” award, recognizing India’s environmental conservation initiatives.
Addressing the assembly, the Prime Minister launched an impassioned defense of island nations bearing the brunt of global warming:
“The Global South, and especially the island nations, are the most impacted by Climate Change… We both firmly believe that those who have contributed the least to climate change should not bear the greatest burden of its consequences. Climate action must be guided by fairness, responsibility, and equity. This is the essence of climate justice.” — Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Modi highlighted India’s clean energy acceleration via initiatives like Mission LiFE, the International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), promising to champion the specific vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the global stage.
Shared Cultural Roots and Digital Public Infrastructure
The Prime Minister lauded the unique Creole identity, mapping out cultural links that date back to August 1770 when the first five Indian settlers arrived at Saint Anne Island on the ship Thelemaque. Today, Indian elements are woven into daily Seychellois life through culinary staples and festive celebrations like Deepavali and Navratri.
Future Economic and Youth Collaborations:
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Human Capital: Notably, nearly 1 in every 50 citizens of Seychelles has undergone academic or professional training in India through various bilateral exchange frameworks.
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Digital Transformation: India offered to share its Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) architecture to assist Seychelles in expanding financial inclusion, streamlining e-governance, and supporting its youth-centric IGNITE internship initiative.
