Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day official visit to Seychelles to strengthen maritime cooperation and bilateral ties. He was received by President Patrick Herminie and met with the Indian diaspora. For citizens, this means India is seeking to secure strategic alliances in the Indian Ocean, which could influence regional stability and trade.
Satellite surveillance and smart ports: the new era of the naval alliance 🛰️
India will offer Seychelles coastal monitoring systems based on satellite data and long-range radars. Smart buoys are planned to track merchant and fishing vessel routes in real time. Additionally, the port of Victoria will be modernized with IoT sensors and cybersecurity platforms. These agreements aim to create a shared surveillance network capable of detecting threats such as piracy or illegal fishing, integrating Seychelles into India's defense architecture.
Modi and Herminie: two presidents, one selfie, and many promises 🤳
While Modi posed with the local Indian community, some aide must have reminded him he wasn't at an election rally. President Herminie, for his part, nodded to everything while pondering how many radars fit on an island of 455 km². The best part: local fishermen now fear their boats will be mistaken for Chinese drones. At least, if something goes wrong, they can always blame the surveillance algorithm.