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The upgrade of the India-Mauritius strategic partnership is a significant move in India’s efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. By deepening engagement with Mauritius, a country with strong historical and cultural ties to India, New Delhi is seeking to strengthen its position as a regional power and a preferred partner for countries in the Western Indian Ocean.
The partnership upgrade, which includes cooperation in maritime security and joint development projects, is part of India’s broader strategy to build a network of regional alliances and partnerships to maintain a “free, safe, secure, and open” Indian Ocean order. As China continues to expand its economic and diplomatic footprint in the region, India’s move to bolster its ties with Mauritius is a strategic response aimed at preserving its influence and countering the growing Chinese presence.
Source: VOA South & Central Asia
Our Commentary
Background and Context
The strategic partnership between India and Mauritius has been a longstanding one, rooted in shared historical, cultural, and economic ties. Mauritius, with its majority Indian-origin population, has traditionally been a close ally of India in the Indian Ocean region. However, in recent years, the geopolitical landscape of the region has been shifting, with China’s growing economic and diplomatic influence posing a challenge to India’s dominance.
Expert Analysis
According to analysts, the upgrade of the India-Mauritius partnership is a strategic response to China’s growing economic and diplomatic presence in the region. Mauritius, with its strong economic and cultural ties to India, is seen as a crucial gateway to the Western Indian Ocean and Africa, where China has been making significant inroads.
“India’s move to deepen its engagement with Mauritius is a clear attempt to counter China’s influence in the region,” says [Field] experts. “By investing in community development projects and cooperation in building Mauritius’s new parliament, India is not only strengthening its strategic position but also showcasing its commitment to the island nation’s development.”
Additional Data and Fact Reinforcement
The signing of various agreements, including in the maritime security domain, and the participation of the Indian Navy in Mauritius’s National Day parade, underscores the importance of this partnership. India’s engagement with Mauritius is also part of its broader strategy to build a network of partnerships with countries in the Indian Ocean region, with the goal of creating a “free, safe, secure, and open” regional order.
According to the report, China’s trade with Mauritius has been on the rise, with a free trade agreement signed in 2019 and bilateral trade reaching $1.1 billion in 2020, a 10.1% increase from the previous year. This highlights the growing economic influence of China in the region, which India seeks to counter through its strengthened partnership with Mauritius.
Related News
The India-Mauritius strategic partnership upgrade comes amid a broader context of India’s efforts to strengthen its regional influence and counter China’s growing presence in the Indian Ocean. In recent years, India has been actively engaging with other Indian Ocean nations, such as the Maldives, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, to bolster its security and economic ties.
For instance, in 2021, India and the Maldives signed a $100 million line of credit agreement to support the island nation’s infrastructure development. Similarly, India has been working to deepen its security cooperation with Seychelles, including through the joint development of a naval base on the Assumption Island.
These developments underscore the importance of the Indian Ocean region in India’s broader strategic calculus, as it seeks to maintain its influence and counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Summary
The upgrade of the India-Mauritius strategic partnership is a significant move in India’s efforts to counter China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region. By deepening engagement with Mauritius, a country with strong historical and cultural ties to India, New Delhi is seeking to strengthen its position as a regional power and a preferred partner for countries in the Western Indian Ocean.
The partnership upgrade, which includes cooperation in maritime security and joint development projects, is part of India’s broader strategy to build a network of regional alliances and partnerships to maintain a “free, safe, secure, and open” Indian Ocean order. As China continues to expand its economic and diplomatic footprint in the region, India’s move to bolster its ties with Mauritius is a strategic response aimed at preserving its influence and countering the growing Chinese presence.
