India has continued its maritime engagement with Seychelles after three Indian maritime vessels departed Port Victoria on October 15, completing a port call focused on professional training, operational coordination and cooperation between the two countries.
The Indian Navy's First Training Squadron (1TS) comprised INS Tir, INS Sujata and Indian Coast Guard Ship Sarathi during the visit. According to the Ministry of Defence, the vessels arrived on October 12 and left after completing a programme of bilateral activities.
The Ministry announced the departure on October 17, describing the engagement as part of India's broader effort to strengthen maritime partnerships through professional exchanges, capacity building and interaction with partner countries in the Indian Ocean region.
The visit combined naval engagement with practical training and community outreach. It also provided an opportunity for Indian and Seychelles maritime personnel to exchange experience and familiarise themselves with procedures used during coordinated activities at sea.
Joint Exercise With Seychelles Coast Guard
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Maritime security depends not only on ships and equipment but also on the ability of personnel from different forces to communicate and coordinate effectively. Joint exercises and training exchanges help participants practise procedures, understand one another's operating methods and build professional relationships that may be useful during future maritime engagements. For India, such programmes support its wider regional partnerships in the Indian Ocean. For Seychelles, training and professional exchanges provide opportunities to strengthen cooperation with a major regional maritime partner. The visit also illustrates how defence engagement can combine operational training with humanitarian and community activities. Its practical impact should be assessed through the continuation of cooperation and the results of future engagements, rather than by assuming that a single port call automatically changes regional security conditions.
One of the key operational activities during the port call was a Passage Exercise, commonly known as PASSEX, conducted with Seychelles Coast Guard Ship Andromache.
The exercise involved joint patrolling, communication drills and coordinated manoeuvres. Such activities allow participating maritime forces to practise operating together, exchange operational procedures and improve coordination between ships.
Communication is particularly important during joint maritime operations, where ships must share information clearly and coordinate movements while maintaining safe distances and responding to changing conditions.
The exercise formed part of a wider programme of professional engagement. The Ministry of Defence said the visit reinforced cooperation between the Indian Navy and Seychelles' maritime institutions.
The publicly available announcement did not specify the number of personnel involved, the duration of the sea exercise or any operational performance results. Those details should not be inferred from the fact that the exercise took place.
Indian and Seychelles Defence Leaders Discuss Cooperation
During the port call, the Senior Officer of the First Training Squadron and the commanding officers of the visiting ships called on Major General Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces of the Seychelles Defence Force.
The discussions focused on the longstanding relationship between the two countries and avenues for bilateral defence cooperation.
Such engagements provide an opportunity for military leaders to review existing cooperation, discuss training requirements and identify areas where professional exchanges may be expanded.
For India, cooperation with Seychelles is relevant to maritime engagement across the western Indian Ocean. For Seychelles, interaction with a larger regional maritime partner can support professional training and the development of maritime capabilities.
The Ministry's announcement described the discussions as part of the enduring partnership between the two forces. It did not announce a new defence treaty or a specific new procurement agreement during the visit.
Firefighting and Small-Arms Training Included
The programme included firefighting and small-arms training for personnel of the Seychelles Defence Force, along with professional activities and cross-training visits.
Firefighting is an important capability for maritime personnel because fires aboard vessels can spread rapidly in confined spaces and threaten crew safety, equipment and a ship's ability to operate.
Training in emergency response helps personnel practise procedures that may be required during onboard incidents. Cross-training visits also allow participating forces to exchange professional knowledge and understand one another's operating practices.
The Ministry did not publish detailed training results or specify how many Seychelles personnel participated. The confirmed information establishes that these activities formed part of the port-call programme, rather than demonstrating a particular change in operational capability.
Community Outreach Alongside Defence Engagement
The Indian squadron's visit also included activities outside formal military training.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the programme featured a medical camp, distribution of essential supplies at the Point La Rue elderly home, a visit by schoolchildren and a musical performance by the Indian Navy Band.
These activities added a community-engagement dimension to the deployment and provided opportunities for interaction between visiting Indian personnel and local residents.
Naval port calls often combine professional engagement with cultural and community activities. Such interactions can strengthen people-to-people ties alongside institutional defence relationships.
The Seychelles visit therefore brought together operational coordination, training and public engagement within a single programme.
Why Seychelles Matters to India's Maritime Engagement
Seychelles is an island nation in the western Indian Ocean. Its location makes maritime security, safe navigation and the protection of ocean-based economic activity important national concerns.
India has maintained defence and maritime cooperation with Seychelles through engagements involving training, professional exchanges and other forms of bilateral interaction.
Cooperation with Indian Ocean island countries is also relevant to India's wider maritime outlook, which emphasises partnerships, capacity building and regional stability.
The departure of the First Training Squadron does not, by itself, signify a new military deployment or a change in India's operational posture. Instead, it demonstrates the continuation of an established approach to maritime engagement through training visits and joint activities.
The longer-term value of such programmes depends on sustained cooperation, follow-up training and the ability of participating forces to apply shared procedures when required.
India's MAHASAGAR Vision
The Ministry of Defence linked the deployment to India's MAHASAGAR vision, which stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
The approach emphasises cooperation with maritime partners and capacity building across the wider Indian Ocean region.
Training deployments can contribute to this objective by giving naval personnel opportunities to work with partner forces, share professional knowledge and conduct coordinated maritime activities.
The Seychelles visit combined those objectives through the PASSEX, firefighting and small-arms training, leadership discussions and community outreach.
The official announcement did not attribute a specific new security commitment or agreement to the visit. Its significance lies in the continuation of practical engagement between the two maritime partners.
