The Indian Navy marked a significant milestone in its regional maritime outreach with the arrival of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar at Port Victoria, Seychelles, on Thursday, May 1, 2025. The visit is part of India’s flagship maritime diplomacy effort—SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)—and reaffirms India’s commitment to ensuring stability, security, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
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Formerly commissioned as INS Sunayna, IOS Sagar is an Offshore Patrol Vessel repurposed for the SAGAR mission, launched from Karwar naval base on April 5, 2025, by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The mission carries 44 naval trainees from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs): Seychelles, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania. It aims to enhance maritime interoperability through joint training in firefighting, damage control, seamanship, boat handling, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations.
India and Seychelles share a longstanding defense partnership dating back to Seychelles’ independence in 1976. India has supported the island nation in patrolling its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), combating piracy, and enhancing maritime infrastructure. Notably, India provided Dornier 228 aircraft and Chetak helicopters to boost Seychelles’ maritime surveillance capabilities. The current visit builds on this legacy, demonstrating India’s role as a “preferred security partner” in the Western Indian Ocean.
The SAGAR initiative, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 during a visit to Mauritius, emphasizes regional collaboration, maritime capacity building, and economic development. The arrival of IOS Sagar comes at a time of heightened strategic competition in the IOR, particularly with China expanding its naval footprint. Seychelles, strategically located in the Southwest Indian Ocean, is central to India’s maritime strategy and broader vision for a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.
India’s Defense Minister hailed the SAGAR deployment as a “proud moment” showcasing India’s leadership in cooperative maritime security. The mission also comes amid growing concerns over the strategic race for underwater resources in the IOR, including the recent discovery of a cobalt-rich undersea mountain, which has intensified geopolitical interest in the region.
Beyond defense, the India-Seychelles relationship encompasses areas such as tourism, fisheries, and petroleum exploration. The IOS Sagar visit opens new avenues for bilateral cooperation and demonstrates the effectiveness of maritime diplomacy in building mutual trust and capacity.
As IOS Sagar continues its multinational voyage, it symbolizes India’s enduring vision for a safe, secure, and prosperous Indian Ocean. The mission sets a strong precedent for collaborative security frameworks and reinforces India’s role in shaping a stable maritime environment for all littoral nations.
