Mauritius- India relations
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The InduTech Zone IT SEZ
The Mauritius government has dragged India to the International Court of Justice for arbitration in the InduTech Zone Investments case. InduTech Zone IT SEZ had failed to take off after CBI chargesheeted Andhra opposition leader Jagan Mohan Reddy in a scam involving the land earmarked for the purpose. Indu Shyam Prasad Reddy, who was contracted to develop the SEZ, had mortgaged the land to raise loans and laundered part of it. Reddy, along with others, was booked in the same case.
As the SEZ case got embroiled in legal tangle, Carissa Investments LLC of Mauritius, which holds 49% stake in InduTech Zone, through FDI, approached the Mauritius government, which took up the case for arbitration. The Mauritius government took up the case under a bilateral treaty for protection of investments.
A top official of Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) told TOI, “A legal notice has been served by the Mauritius government in the name of PM Narendra Modi, stating that Carissa LLC has been cheated. The claimant, Carissa LLC, said the claim would be over $50 million and sought arbitration. In the notice, the Mauritius government has quoted United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Model Law on Commercial Arbitration.”
Besides the PM, the notice also mentions names of finance minister, law minister, commerce minister and urban affairs minister as respondents. Though not as respondent, the notice mentions the chargesheet against Jagan. “The Mauritius government said it is a breach of bilateral investment treaty that promised protection of investments. With the CBI and ED cases pending, the project failed to take off and resulted in loss of investments for Carissa. International Court of Justice sent a notice to India seeking appointment of an arbitrator. The Centre has called for an inter-ministerial group meeting for appointing an arbitrator,” said the TSIIC official.
Chagos Islands
2018: India backs Mauritius’ claim
India weighed in on behalf of Mauritius at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, saying the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean – which is currently ruled by the UK and operates US’ Diego Garcia military base – “has been and continues to be with Mauritius”.
After the UN general assembly voted in favour of a legal opinion to the question of sovereignty of the islands, the ICJ had taken up the case to deliver an advisory opinion, which will not be legally binding. Of the 22 countries which are giving their legal opinion, the UK is supported by the US, Australia and Israel, while Mauritius is being supported by 17 countries, including India.
India’s ambassador, Venu Rajamony, who presented the Indian opinion, said the “historical survey of facts … indicates that the Chagos Archipelago throughout the preand post-colonial era has been part of the Mauritian territory. These islands came under the colonial administration of the United Kingdom as part of Mauritian territory”.
While India stayed true to its commitment to its Indian Ocean neighbour Mauritius, as well as its anti-colonial credentials, there is some irony in the fact that after signing the LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) with the US in 2016, India can actually access Diego Garcia for some of its uses. That itself has led to some interest in India’s opinion, particularly as the UK and US have reached out to India for support. The Indian opinion was also publicised the day before the first high-level dialogue between India and US here.
A statement by the Indian government observed, “The Arbitral Tribunal constituted by agreement between Mauritius and UK in its Award dated 18 March 2015, ruled that the undertakings of the United Kingdom with respect to: the fishing rights of Mauritius in the waters of Chagos Archipelago; the eventual return of the Archipelago to Mauritius and; the benefit of mineral and oil resources in and near the Archipelago, are legally binding undertakings. Further, by declaring as legally binding the undertaking of the United Kingdom to return the Archipelago to Mauritius, the Award has determined the legal obligation of the United Kingdom to return the Archipelago to Mauritius.”
After signing an MoU with the US in 2016, India can access the military base US operates on the islands
India backs Mauritius vis-à-vis UK
July 17, 2024: The Times of India
New Delhi : Foreign minister S Jaishankar’s ongoing visit to Mauritius saw inauguration of 12 high impact community development projects that are funded by India, with the minister reaffirming India’s consistent and continued support to the Indian Ocean country in its quest for progress. Significantly, Jaishankar reassured Mauritius of India’s support on the issue of Chagos Archipelago, saying it’s in line with India’s principal stand on decolonisation and support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
Speaking at an event in Port Louis, in the presence of Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Jaishankar said, “As we look at our deep and enduring relationship, I would like to again assure you today that on the issue of Chagos, India will continue its consistent support to Mauritius in line with its principal stand on decolonisation and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.” Mauritius foreign minister Maneesh Gobin was quick to acknowledge his counterpart’s comments as he expressed deep gratitude for India’s consistent support in a post on X.
With an area of 60sq-km, Chagos Archipelago, a group of atolls comprising 58 is- lands, is located around 2,200km north-east of the main island of Mauritius and about 1,700km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram. The strategically important Diego Garcia, which is home to a joint USUK naval facility, is the largest and southernmost island in the Archipelago.
A non-binding 2019 UN General Assembly vote demanded that Britain end its “colonial administration” of Chagos Archipelago and that it be returned to Mauritius. UK claims Britain’s sovereignty over the islands, while maintaining that the issue is a bilateral dispute between Mauritius and the UK that does not warrant international intervention. According to Mauritius govt website, Chagos Archipelago has been part of the territory of the Republic of Mauritius since at least the 18th Century when it was a French colony and was known as Ile de France.
Jaishankar said his visit to Mauritius is also an opportunity to underline India’s unwavering commitment to its special and enduring partnership with the island country. “India’s ties with Mauritius have blossomed into a robust and multifaceted partnership. The bilateral relation with Mauritius serves as a role model for India's successful development collaboration abroad,” he said.
Defence relations
Agaléga Island airstrip/ 2024
Amrita Nayak Dutta, March 4, 2024: The Indian Express
The upgraded airstrip on Agaléga Island, a strategic outpost in the Indian Ocean, will allow the Indian Navy to operate its P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft, significantly improving India’s maritime domain awareness in this critical region where China is seeking to expand its footprint.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius jointly inaugurated an airstrip and a jetty that India has built on Agaléga, a set of two islands in the western Indian Ocean, along with some other community development initiatives.
The Mauritian dependency of Agaléga comprises two islands — the main North Island, and the smaller South Island, located 1,100 km north of Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, and 2,500 km southwest of Malé, the capital of Maldives.
Over the last few years, there have been reports about purported Indian efforts to develop Agaléga as a military base in the Indian Ocean. Prime Minister Jugnauth has denied these claims forcefully, and deplored the “India-bashing campaign” by “some ill-minded persons” in this regard.
India has said that Mauritius is a key partner of its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and a special partner under Vision SAGAR, and that the two countries have a vibrant, strong, and unique partnership.
What strategic significance does the Agaléga airstrip have for India?
The upgraded airstrip and jetty are key strategic projects that can help to expand India’s reach in the Indian Ocean and enhance its coverage of the waters off the east coast of Africa, as it looks to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region, including in the Maldives.
The existing airstrip on North Agaléga Island was suitable for the Indian Navy’s Dornier aircraft operations, but the upgraded airstrip will allow the Navy to also operate the larger P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Basing aircraft on the island will require the construction of additional infrastructure, which comes with a full-fledged naval base.
Operating from Agaléga, the Indian Navy’s long-range aircraft will be able to keep an eye on the western and southern Indian Ocean, and on the eastern and southern coast of Africa, significantly improving India’s maritime domain awareness in the region, and its ability to carry out a range of maritime operations.
Following the tensions in the Red Sea region, many commercial vessels on east-west voyages have been rerouting to the Cape of Good Hope, leading to increased transits and shipping traffic in the region.
While Jugnauth has rejected reports about the possible development of an Indian military base at Agaléga, the concept of countries maintaining a military presence in the region is not new.
The United States Navy has a key base at Diego Garcia, the largest island in the 58-island Chagos archipelago, located just south of the Equator in the central Indian Ocean. And in 2017, China opened its first overseas naval base in the east African country Djibouti, placing itself strategically at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.
What military ties does India have with Mauritius at present?
India and Mauritius have cooperated closely on maritime security and other aspects. Indian defence officers are deputed to the Mauritian Defence Forces. A MEA document mentions that an Indian Navy officer heads the Mauritian National Coast Guard, an Indian Air Force officer commands the Police Helicopter Squadron, and an Indian Naval Officer heads the Mauritius Hydrography Services.
About 20 officers from the Indian Defence Forces are on deputation to the country. India has supplied six of the seven helicopters in service in Mauritius, besides five ships, three aircraft, and 10 Fast Interceptor boats, and has helped set up a Coastal Surveillance Radar System.
In February 2021, India extended a $100 million line of credit to Mauritius for procuring defence products.
What overall military presence does India have in this part of the Indian Ocean?
The Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu at Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island this month. This independent Naval unit will enhance the overall operational capability of the Indian Navy on the islands. INS Jatayu will be the second Naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
Besides Mauritius, India has been working in recent years to enhance its diplomatic and military ties with the Seychelles and African nations including Madagascar.
India has also had military ties with the Maldives for several decades, but the relationship has been impacted by changes in the political dispensation in the islands. The present government of President Mohamed Muizzu, which rode to power on an “India Out” plank last year, has a clear pro-China tilt.
YEAR-WISE DEVELOPMENTS
2021
FTA
Indrani Bagchi, February 23, 2021: The Times of India
India inks FTA with Mauritius, the 1st with an African nation
Will Help Indian Bizmen Use It As Launch Pad: Jaishankar
New Delhi:
India signed a free trade and investment agreement with Mauritius on Tuesday, the first with any country in Africa. It was also the first time since 2011 that India was signing a free trade pact with any country. Announcing this in Port Louis, foreign minister S Jaishankar said the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) “will provide a timely boost for the revival of our post-Covid economies and also enable Indian investors to use Mauritius as a launch-pad for business expansion into continental Africa helping the prospect of Mauritius emerging as a ‘hub of Africa’.” In his first visit there as foreign minister, Jaishankar also handed over another 1,00,000 doses of Covid vaccines to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth. India had earlier flown over 1,00,000 doses in January.
For Mauritius, the Indian market for frozen fish, speciality sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, soaps, bags, medical and surgical equipment, and apparel will open up. “Mauritius will get preferential access for export of 40,000 tonnes of sugar into India at an early time frame. Similarly, there will also be access for the export of 7.5 million pieces of apparel,” Jaishankar said.
In services, Jaishankar said, India has offered 95 sub-sectors from 11 broad services sectors. “Services contribute, I believe, 76% of the GDP of Mauritius, and CECPA will surely boost the dynamism of the services sector in Mauritius. The CECPA could also facilitate Indian investment in the services sector in Mauritius.”
Mauritius being a crucial security partner in the Indian Ocean region, India has leased out a Dornier aircraft and an Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv “on a gratis basis for 2 years.” Jaishankar described India’s assistance and presence for Mauritius as “responsive, resolute and reliable.”
