Modi’s visits to Seychelles and Indonesia occur against the backdrop of intensifying competition in the Indo-Pacific. Indonesia’s position astride the Malacca Strait makes Sabang Port development and BrahMos acquisition, geopolitically significant—they enhance maritime security without militarising the region excessively. For India, it diversifies defence partnerships beyond traditional suppliers and demonstrates Atmanirbhar Bharat in action, through exports. In the western IOR, Seychelles’ cooperation counters extra-regional influence while promoting inclusive growth. MAHASAGAR positions India as a provider of public goods—security, connectivity, capacity building—rather than a competitor in zero-sum terms. Economically, critical minerals cooperation with Indonesia addresses supply-chain vulnerabilities for India’s green transition. Digital public infrastructure exports (UPI model) and education initiatives build long-term soft power. Culturally, heritage restoration and people-to-people exchanges sustain the civilisational connect that underpins political will. Regionally, the visits reinforce India’s Act East Policy and commitment to ASEAN-led mechanisms (Modi participated in related
summits). They complement QUAD efforts while engaging key ASEAN members like Indonesia
on shared concerns such as South China Sea stability and supply-chain resilience.
Clearly, Modi’s back-to-back State visits to Seychelles and Indonesia represent a deliberate and high-impact exercise in what can aptly be termed “oceanic diplomacy.” These trips underscore India’s evolving maritime strategy, blending security, economic cooperation, sustainable development and cultural affinity across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the broader Indo-Pacific. The Seychelles visit marked the golden jubilee of its independence and reinforced India’s role as a net security provider and development partner in the western Indian Ocean. The Indonesia trip, the first leg of a three-nation tour that also includes Australia and New Zealand, elevated the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) established in 2018, to new heights through landmark defence deals, critical minerals cooperation and connectivity projects.
Together, these engagements advance Modi’s vision, rooted in SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, articulated in 2015) and its evolution into MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions),of transforming the Indian Ocean into an “Ocean of Opportunity” for all littoral States. They also align with India’s Act East Policy, commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the
broader goal of positioning India as a leading voice of the Global South.
For Indonesia, shared civilisational heritage is profound–Hindu-Buddhist influences are evident in Borobudur and Prambanan temples, the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics and centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean. Indonesia’s name itself derives from “Indus” and “Nesos” (island). Modern relations began with diplomatic ties in 1949 and were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Modi’s 2018 visit to Jakarta.
As for Seychelles, an archipelago nation in the western Indian Ocean with a significant Indian-origin population, India has long supported Seychelles through capacity building in defence, hydrography and
disaster management. Modi’s previous visit in 2015 laid the foundation for deeper maritime domain awareness cooperation, including coastal surveillance radars and Dornier aircraft gifts. Both countries share democratic values, pluralism and a commitment to multilateralism, making them natural partners in an era of geopolitical flux.
India’s maritime outlook has undergone a paradigm shift under Modi. The 2015 SAGAR doctrine prioritised security and growth in the Indian Ocean, focusing on the immediate neighbourhood (Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles). It emphasised capacity building, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and blue economy development. By 2025–2026, this evolved into MAHASAGAR, announced during visits to Mauritius and reinforced in subsequent engagements. MAHASAGAR expands the canvas to the Global South, emphasising mutual advancement in security, trade, sustainable development and connectivity across regions. It reflects India’s aspiration to lead inclusive maritime governance, while addressing challenges like illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, piracy and climate-induced threats. Key pillars include: Maritime security and domain awareness (MDA), Sustainable blue economy and fisheries, Climate resilience and disaster management, Critical infrastructure and connectivity and Defence capacity building and export
Strategically, Seychelles’ location, midway between Africa and India, with a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), makes it vital for MDA, anti-piracy patrols and monitoring chokepoints. India’s support helps Seychelles build capabilities against non-traditional threats while advancing the blue economy (tourism, fisheries, renewable energy). Modi’s visit reinforced India as Seychelles’ preferred partner over extra-regional powers
seeking footholds in the IOR.
Speaking of Indonesia, Modi’s 6–8 July 2026 State visit to Jakarta was his fourth to Indonesia and the first bilateral visit since the 2018 CSP elevation. President Prabowo Subianto accorded him a grand ceremonial welcome, including an Indonesian Air Force fighter jet escort. Modi addressed the Indonesian Parliament and visited the Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, where restoration work by India’s Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI) was inaugurated. The visit produced over a dozen agreements and major announcements, described as “20 landmark outcomes” in some reports. The centrepiece was the defence deal allowing Indonesia to acquire India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles,the first major export of this system to Southeast
Asia, alongside cooperation on Astra Mk1 air-to-air missiles. This significantly boosts India’s defence exports and deepens interoperability.
Other major outcomes included joint development of Sabang Port (strategically located near the Strait of Malacca) for tourism, industries and services, enhancing connectivity between India’s Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Sumatra.MoUs on critical minerals and rare earths vital for India’s EV and renewable energy push, given that Indonesia is a major nickel producer, steel supply chains and a strategic JV between SAIL and PT Krakatau Steel,added to Modi’s Indonesian outreach.
Announcement of an IIM Bengaluru campus in Indonesia, MoUs on primary/secondary and higher education exchanges, extension of framework agreements, support for Gaganyaan and Indonesian satellites and
potential space port collaboration,were the other significant highlights of PM Modi’s visit.
Modi was conferred Indonesia’s highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna, for elevating bilateral ties. Bilateral talks covered the full spectrum–defence/maritime (renewed focus on MDA, joint
exercises, coast guard cooperation), trade/investment (review of AITIGA), counter-terrorism, cyber security, health, agriculture, energy (green hydrogen, renewables) and people-to-people ties. Both leaders emphasised convergence in the Indo-Pacific, ASEAN centrality and a rules-based order.
Geopolitically, both nations pursue strategic autonomy—Indonesia balances major powers; Seychelles values non-alignment. India’s diplomacy succeeds by offering partnership without preconditions, respecting sovereignty and focusing on mutual benefit. Future milestones could include higher defence exercises, expanded critical minerals value chains, deeper digital and space collaboration and trilateral or minilateral formats
involving like-minded partners. Narendra Modi’s 2026 visits to Seychelles and Indonesia exemplify oceanic diplomacy at its most effective, rooted in history, driven by shared interests and oriented towards a prosperous and secure maritime future. By operationalising MAHASAGAR and strengthening the India-Indonesia CSP, India is not only securing its own interests but contributing to regional stability and the empowerment of the Global South.
The Indian Ocean, long a connector of civilisations, is being reimagined as an ocean of opportunity through defence partnerships like BrahMos, connectivity projects like Sabang, development assistance in Seychelles and cultural bridges like Prambanan. Seychelles and Indonesia are textbook examples of Modi’s oceanic diplomacy. Seychelles represents the western IOR flank; Indonesia anchors the eastern gateway via the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest trade Modi’s recent Seychelles visit yielded 19 concrete outcomes, five development assistance programmes, five new initiatives and nine MoUs spanning defence, digital payments, health, agriculture, space, trade and capacity building. Modi was conferred Seychelles’ highest distinction, the ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’, for leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development. He dedicated the honour to nations combating climate change.
A commemorative logo for 50 years of diplomatic relations was launched, alongside a virtual groundbreaking ceremony for new projects. Agreements covered coastal surveillance, anti-piracy cooperation, hydrographic surveys and maritime security.
Focus areas included climate resilience, healthcare/pharmaceuticals, agriculture, space cooperation and digital public infrastructure. As PM Modi has consistently articulated, when the Indian Ocean thrives, India and its partners thrive together. These engagements signal India’s emergence as a confident, capable maritime power committed to a rules-based order, which is what Modiplomacy is essentially all about.