Military Africa
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release
Saturday, February 4, 2023
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release
No Result
View All Result
Military Africa
No Result
View All Result
Home Security

Mauritius gets India $100 million defense assistance fund

Sarah Lesedi by Sarah Lesedi
March 26, 2021 - Updated on March 28, 2021
in Security
Reading Time: 3 mins read
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mauritius is set to receive a $100 million fund from India to procure needed security equipment for its Coast Guard.

Signed in February between Indian External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravin Jugnauth, Mauritius will utilize the funds to procure military equipment, including aircraft and patrol boats, from Indian defence equipment manufacturers.

You Might Also Like

India, Egypt looks to deepen military co-operation

“Act of War” Rwanda attacks DRC’s SU-25 aircraft as threat of invasion looms

French forces asked to leave Burkina Faso amid closer ties with Russia

Meanwhile, India is at the final stage of donating a Dornier 228 light transport aircraft a single Dhruv helicopter to Mauritius. These will help the sub-tropical island nation boost its maritime surveillance capabilities.

While speaking about the funds, Indian External Affairs minister S Jaishankar praised the gesture, stating that the strengthening of the economic security partnership would benefit both countries.

“I am pleased to have witnessed the signing of a $100 million Defence Line of Credit to facilitate the procurement of defense assets by Mauritius. These initiatives underline once again that the security of Mauritius is the security of India, and that the prosperity of Mauritius is our prosperity,” Jaishankar said.

Also, Mauritian Prime Minister Jugnauth hailed the move, saying that the additional defence equipment would help the coastguard to secure the country’s territorial integrity and support the rule of law and freedom of navigation in international waters of the South-West Indian Ocean.

Over the past few years, India has been strengthening its relationship with Africa nations in a bid to offset growing China assertiveness in the continent.

ADVERTISEMENT

India is building what appears to be a large military air and naval base on North Agalega island 1,100 km North of Mauritius. According to recent Google Earth imagery, the construction is big enough to handle Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, while it’s two jetties could berth capital warships.

In November 2018, India retrofitted Mauritius Coast Guard Maritime Air Squadron HAL Do-228 aircraft with 7.62 mm machine gun pods to combat criminal activities in the country’s waters.

India also donated a Dornier Do-228 light transport aircraft to Seychelles in Seychelles Coast Guard. The aircraft will be used for coastal patrols. A 50 m fast patrol vessel (FPV) built by the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) will be delivered before the year ends.

military.africa/2021/02/india-to-deliver-50-metre-patrol-vessel-to-seychelles

Mozambique was gifted two Indian L&T-class fast patrol interceptor boats in July 2019, for coastal surveillance.

The Indian Navy is building an Ocean-wide coastal radar surveillance network with bases in littoral states that include Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and the Maldives. It’ll comprise of 104 static coastal surveillance radar stations in friendly African and Asian states.

Recommended posts

Tags: IndiaMauritius

Join 154,765 others in receiving our trusted defence news

Unsubscribe

Related News

India, Egypt Exercise CYCLONE 2023

India, Egypt Exercise CYCLONE 2023

February 2, 2023
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before their meeting at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, January 25, 2023. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

India, Egypt looks to deepen military co-operation

January 28, 2023
India and France carry out joint surveillance mission in Mozambique

India and France carry out joint surveillance mission in Mozambique

November 14, 2022
First India-Africa trilateral naval exercise ends

First India-Africa trilateral naval exercise ends

November 3, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Facebook

ADVERTISEMENT
No Result
View All Result
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Press Release

© 2022 Military Africa